Grandma on "Politics in the family"
2005-07-07

Given all the recent excitement, my grandmother Audrey pointed out where my interest in politics may be from.

Lawrence Brigden (federal candidate)
Relation: maternal grandfather

Norval Alic Horner (MP)
Relation: second cousin, twice removed (son of Sen. Ralph Byron Horner)

John (Jack) Henry Horner (MP) [wikipedia]
Relation: second cousin, twice removed (son of Sen. Ralph Byron Horner)

Hugh Macarthur Horner (MP)
Relation: second cousin, twice removed (son of Sen. Ralph Byron Horner)

Albert Ralph Horner (MP)
Relation: first cousin, twice removed (cousin to Hugh, Jack, and Norval)

Ralph Byron Horner (Senator)
Relation: first cousin, thrice removed

Doug Horner (MLA)
Relation: third cousin, once removed

Ralph, Albert, Hugh, and Jack were all in parliament at the same time. Jack also wrote a book , "My Own Brand" (autobiography), which my grandmother has let me borrow. Albert is second cousin to Jack, Hugh, and Norval; my paternal grandfather Ralph Finlay is first cousin to Albert. In other words, my great-great-grandfather is Albert's grandfather, and my great-great-great-grandfather is Ralph Byron's grandfather. Norval and Albert are still around too... Time to get reading :) Also: What is a First Cousin, Twice Removed?

It probably keeps going... but that would require some serious digging. Locally, Byron McCorkell is third cousin, once removed (Ralph Byron Horner is his grandfather). There may be more connections in Ontario...