Hugh McGavin

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Dr. Hugh James McGavin (November 14, 1874 – March 8, 1958) was a doctor and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly from 1927 to 1932 as a Conservative.

McGavin was born in Paisley, Ontario, the son of James McGavin, a saddler, and Elizabeth Wright. He moved to Manitoba with his family in 1877. He trained as a doctor at Manitoba Medical College and practiced as a general physician in Plum Coulee. In 1903 he was appointed a health officer, earning $40 a year. His motto was, "Do all the good you can for as many people as you can for as long as you can." He married Emily Christine Bryans in 1907, and after her death he married Ida Nauer in 1918.

He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in 1910 but lost to Liberal Valentine Winkler in Rhineland. He was elected in 1927 for Morden and Rhineland, defeating J. H. Black. Black led on the first count, but McGavin won after vote transfers under the single transferable ballot then used. The Conservatives were the official opposition after the 1927 election. In 1932 he lost to Liberal-Progressive Cornelius Wiebe. McGavin died at his home in Plum Coulee at age 83.