Frederick James White was born in September 1886, at Port Credit, Ontario. He resided in Hamilton, Ontario until 1898. He moved to Guelph with his family and got his first job at the age of 15 working at the Guelph Mercury. In 1905, he went to work for the Harley Watkins Printing Co. in Brantford as a printer. In 1907 he decided to travel, visiting Montreal and the United Kingdom. In 1910, White decided to travel to western Canada. He found work as a printer in Calgary.
Municipal political career
White became involved in the Calgary Labor movement. In 1918 he ran for municipal council and was elected. He served from January 2, 1919 to January 3, 1927. He served again on city council from January 29, 1929 to December 31, 1935. His third stint on council was from January 1, 1940 to September 30, 1941.
Provincial political career
White ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general election. He won the third seat in the electoral district running under the Dominion Labor banner in the Calgary electoral district taking 8.21% of the popular vote. White continued to hold his seat on Calgary city council. White became leader of the Dominion Labor party and led the group into the 1926 Alberta general election. He was elected on the tenth vote count taking fifth place in the polling. Overall in the province 5 out of 12 Dominion Labor Party candidates were elected to the Legislature. He continued on as leader and led the party into the 1930 Alberta general election. The Dominion Labor party lost a seat, White was re-elected in fourth place in the Calgary district on the 7th count. In 1932 White was a delegate to the founding meeting of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. He became a founding member of the party when it was established in 1933. Despite being part of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the Dominion Labor Party ran in the 1935 Alberta general election. White continued on as leader. He was defeated on the 12 count, finishing 11th place in the standings. Province-wide, Dominion Labor was wiped out, losing all seats. White ran as a candidate for the CCF in the 1940 Alberta general election. He did not regain his seat, finishing 8th in the standings.
Late life
White decided to move back to Guelph in 1942. He became Treasurer of the Guelph Labor Council upon his return. He lived the rest of his life in Guelph, dying on October 10, 1967.
