James McShane (November 7, 1833 – December 14, 1918) was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was mayor of Montreal, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, and a member of the House of Commons of Canada.

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Quick Facts Mayor, 21st Mayor of Montreal ...

Mayor James McShane
21st Mayor of Montreal
In office 1891–1893
Preceded by	Jacques Grenier
Succeeded by	Alphonse Desjardins
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Montreal Centre
In office 1895–1896
Preceded by	John Joseph Curran
Succeeded by	None, district abolished
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Montréal division no. 6
In office 1890–1892
Preceded by	None, district created
Succeeded by	Patrick Kennedy
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Montréal-Centre
In office 1886–1890
Preceded by	George Washington Stephens
Succeeded by	None, district abolished
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Montréal-Ouest
In office 1878–1886
Preceded by	John Wait McGauvran
Succeeded by	John Smythe Hall
Personal details
Born	(1833-11-07)November 7, 1833 Montreal, Lower Canada
Died	December 14, 1918(1918-12-14) (aged 85) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Other political affiliations	Quebec Liberal Party
Profession	businessman
Cabinet	Quebec: Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works (1887-1888)

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Born in Montreal, the son of James McShane and Ellen Quinn, he worked as an exporter of livestock to England. He served as a volunteer in the militia during the Fenian raids in 1866.

He represented the Sainte-Anne Ward on the Montreal City Council, from 1868 to 1873, 1874 to 1881 and from 1883 to 1887. From 1891 to 1893, he was the mayor of Montreal.

In 1873, he was defeated as the Liberal Party of Quebec candidate in a Quebec provincial by-election in the riding of Montréal-Ouest.

He was elected in the 1878 provincial election and re-elected in 1881. He was elected in Montréal-Centre in 1886, and in Montréal division no. 6 in 1890. From 1887 to 1888, he was commissioner of agriculture and public works in the cabinet of Premier Honoré Mercier. He was defeated in the 1892 provincial election.

In 1895, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a by-election in the riding of Montreal Centre. A Liberal, he was defeated in the 1896 federal election in the riding of St. Anne.

After leaving politics, he was involved with the Montreal Harbour Commission and was harbour-master from 1900 to 1912. After his death in 1918, he was entombed at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.^[1]