Charles Smith ("C.S.") Hyman, PC (August 31, 1854 – October 8, 1926) was a Canadian businessman, notable politician, and sportsman. He was a popular tennis player and won a record five Canadian Opens, until broken by Ivan Lendl with six titles.

The Hon.
Charles Smith Hyman
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for London
In office
1891–1892
Preceded byJohn Carling
Succeeded byJohn Carling
In office
1900–1907
Preceded byThomas Beattie
Succeeded byThomas Beattie
Personal details
Born(1854-08-31)August 31, 1854
London, Canada West
DiedOctober 8, 1926(1926-10-08) (aged 72)
Political partyLiberal
CabinetMinister Without Portfolio (1904–1905)
Minister of Public Works (1905–1907)
C. S. Hyman
Country (sports)Canada
ResidenceCanada
Singles
Career titles5 ATP
Doubles
Career titles0 ATP
Last updated on: July 25, 2016.

Early life and business

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Born in London, Canada West, the son of Ellis Walton Hyman, a tanner and entrepreneur, and Annie Maria Niles, he was educated at Hellmuth Academy in London and then started a shoe factory with his father in 1874. In 1876, he married Elizabeth Birrell, and for two years, they had an Idlewyld mansion built,[1] which is now an inn. Hyman was president of the London Board of Trade from 1881 to 1882. In 1916, He built a summer estate in Port Stanley, Ontario on the shore of Lake Erie. He was also a tannery owner.[2]

Politics

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Hyman was elected to the London city council in 1882 and was mayor in 1884. He first ran as a Liberal candidate against John Carling for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1887 election for the riding of London and was defeated.

Hyman ran again in 1891 and was elected, but the election was declared void, and he was defeated in the resulting 1892 by-election. After losing again in 1896, he was elected in 1900 and was re-elected in 1904. From 1904 to 1905, he was a minister without portfolio. From 1905 to 1907, he was the Minister of Public Works. He resigned in 1907. He died in 1926 and was buried at Woodland Cemetery in London.

Sports

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Hyman was an early Canadian tennis champion, capturing the national tennis championship (which has since evolved into the current Rogers Cup) five times in singles – in 1884 and each year from 1886 through 1889. (Only Ivan Lendl surpassed this, winning six titles from 1980 to 1989.) Hyman also captured two doubles titles, the 1886 final partnering I.F. Hellmuth, and the 1889 final playing alongside R.S. Wood. (No one has ever won a total of seven titles.)

Hyman was also an early captain of the Canada national cricket team, quite possibly when on its 1887 England Tour.[1]

Hyman is said to have introduced the game bridge to Canada.[1]

Electoral record

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1887 Canadian federal election: London
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative John Carling 2,013
Liberal Charles S. Hyman 1,974
1891 Canadian federal election: London
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal C. S. Hyman 2,037
Liberal–Conservative John Carling 1,854
By-election on 26 February 1892

Election annulled

Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative John Carling  
Liberal C. S. Hyman  
1896 Canadian federal election: London
Party Candidate Votes
Conservative Thomas Beattie 2,325
Liberal C. S. Hyman 2,284
1900 Canadian federal election: London
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal C. S. Hyman 2,812
Conservative Thomas Beattie 2,265
Independent Robert Roadhouse 236
1904 Canadian federal election: London
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal C. S. Hyman 4,302
Conservative William Gray 4,278
By-election on 13 June 1905

Hyman appointed Minister of Public Works, 22 May 1905

Party Candidate Votes
Liberal C. S. Hyman 4,581
Conservative William Gray 4,251

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Doors Open London". Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
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