9th Premier of British Columbia. He served in this position from August 1889 until his death. Born in Perth, Ontario, Canada, he worked in the mercantile business. In 1859 he moved west to the Colony of British Columbia to prospect for gold during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush but was unsuccessful. He then settled in New Westminster and became editor of the newly formed newspaper, the British Columbian, and served on the town council. He reluctantly supported the Colony of Vancouver Island's merger with the British Columbia and moved his newspaper business to Victoria, which was purchased by the Daily British Colonist (now the Victoria Times-Colonist) and he served as its political editor. He also advocated British Columbia's admission into the Canadian Confederation. In October 1871 he entered politics when he was elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo, serving until September 1875. He was then appointed to the Canadian Pacific Railway for five years and operated a newspaper in Westminster for another two years. In July 1882 he returned to the Legislative Assembly for New Westminster, serving until November 1890. When Premier Alexander Edmund Batson Davie died in August 1889, he became Premier three months later. In July 1890 he was also elected to the Legislative Assembly for Cariboo, serving in this position concurrently with his premiership. During his tenure, he encouraged homesteading as well as lobbying the Canadian government to construct a dry dock at Esquimalt, near Victoria. While visiting London England, he died from blood poisoning at the age of 68 after injuring his finger on a carriage door and he was succeeded by Theodore Davie.
9th Premier of British Columbia. He served in this position from August 1889 until his death. Born in Perth, Ontario, Canada, he worked in the mercantile business. In 1859 he moved west to the Colony of British Columbia to prospect for gold during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush but was unsuccessful. He then settled in New Westminster and became editor of the newly formed newspaper, the British Columbian, and served on the town council. He reluctantly supported the Colony of Vancouver Island's merger with the British Columbia and moved his newspaper business to Victoria, which was purchased by the Daily British Colonist (now the Victoria Times-Colonist) and he served as its political editor. He also advocated British Columbia's admission into the Canadian Confederation. In October 1871 he entered politics when he was elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo, serving until September 1875. He was then appointed to the Canadian Pacific Railway for five years and operated a newspaper in Westminster for another two years. In July 1882 he returned to the Legislative Assembly for New Westminster, serving until November 1890. When Premier Alexander Edmund Batson Davie died in August 1889, he became Premier three months later. In July 1890 he was also elected to the Legislative Assembly for Cariboo, serving in this position concurrently with his premiership. During his tenure, he encouraged homesteading as well as lobbying the Canadian government to construct a dry dock at Esquimalt, near Victoria. While visiting London England, he died from blood poisoning at the age of 68 after injuring his finger on a carriage door and he was succeeded by Theodore Davie.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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