William John Bowser

William John Bowser

Hon. William John Bowser
17th Premier of British Columbia
In office
December 15, 1915  November 23, 1916
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Governor Francis Stillman Barnard
Preceded by Richard McBride
Succeeded by Harlan Carey Brewster
MLA for Vancouver City
In office
October 3, 1903  June 20, 1924
Serving with James Garden, Alexander Henry Boswall MacGowan, Robert Garnett Tatlow, Charles Wilson, George Albert McGuire, Charles Edward Tisdall, Henry Holgate Watson, John Sedgwick Cowper, John Wallace de Beque Farris, Malcolm Archibald Macdonald, John William McIntosh, Ralph Smith, Mary Ellen Smith, James Ramsay
Preceded by Joseph Martin
Succeeded by Ian Alistair MacKenzie
Personal details
Born (1867-12-03)December 3, 1867
Rexton, New Brunswick
Died October 25, 1933(1933-10-25) (aged 65)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party Conservative

William John Bowser (Rexton, New Brunswick December 3, 1867 October 25, 1933 Vancouver) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He served as Premier of British Columbia from 1915 to 1916.[1]

The son of William Bowser and Margaret Gordon, Bowser was educated locally and at Mount Allison University and Dalhousie University.[2] He moved to Vancouver to practice law in 1891, and was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1903 election as a Conservative. Bowser served as Attorney-General in the cabinet of Sir Richard McBride from 1907 until 1915, when he succeeded McBride as Premier.[1]

The Conservative party was deeply divided and unpopular[1] and the change in leadership did not improve matters. Accusations of corruption and "machine politics" were rife. The Conservatives also neglected to address popular demands for women's suffrage and prohibition. Bowser's government was defeated in the 1916 election, losing to Liberal leader Harlan Carey Brewster, who two years later was succeeded by the more memorable John Oliver.[3] Bowser continued as leader of the opposition until he lost his seat in the 1924 election.[1]

He returned to politics in the 1933 election to lead the Non-Partisan Independent Group of candidates, but died during the election campaign.[1]

A river, a lake[4] and the small community of Bowser on Vancouver Island,[5] between Parksville and the Comox Valley, are named for Bowser.

References


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