R.G. Willis
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Richard Gardiner Willis (February 10, 1865-February 1929) was a Manitoba farmer, and was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party (1919-1920).
Born in Somhardy, Ontario, Willis was educated at Smiths Falls High School and the University of Toronto. He later moved to Manitoba.
Despite having little political experience, Willis was chosen leader of the Manitoba Conservatives on November 6, 1919, defeating future leader Major Fawcett Taylor. His victory was somewhat unexpected, and may probably be credited to the increasingly strong presence of organized farmers in Manitoba.
The Conservative Party had governed Manitoba from 1900 to 1915, but was largely sidelined by the emergence of farmer and labour radicalism in the late 1910s. It emerged as the fourth-largest parliamentary group after the 1920 election, behind the Liberals, Labour and the Farmer candidates. Willis lost to a Liberal candidate in Turtle Mountain by 14 votes. He technically retained the leadership of the Manitoba Conservative Party until April 1922, but did not play a significant role within the party following his defeat. John Thomas Haig took his place as party leader in the legislature.
Willis ran as the Conservative candidate for Souris in the federal election of 1921, and placed a poor third. He was elected for the provincial riding of Turtle Mountain the next year, however, and won again in 1927. He died in February 1929.
His son, Errick Willis, also served as leader of the Manitoba Conservatives.