OBITUARY MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES BC PREMIERS FAMOUS FREEMASONS

Edward Gawler Prior BC Archives photo May 21, 1853 - December 12, 1920 The second son of an Anglican clergyman, Edward Prior was born in Yorkshire, England. After leaving school he qualified as a mining engineer and left for North America, reaching Vancouver’s Island on December 9, 1873. In Nanaimo he was, at one time or another, inspector of mines, sheriff, government agent, assistant commissioner of lands, and assessor and collector under the Land registry Act. By 1880 he was in Victoria, partners in a hardware business. In 1886 he was elected to the Legislature, resigning the same year to be acclaimed as a member of the House of Commons. He continued in this office until 1901, having been re-elected to the Legislature in 1900. On November 21, 1902 Dunsmuir resigned and Prior was invited to form a new administration. By June 1, 1903 the Lieutenant-Governor had dismissed Prior for non-confidence. This effectively ended Prior’s political career. He was later President of the Victoria Board of Trade and then, from December 1919, Lieutenant-Governor. Initiated: 1891 Victoria Columbia Lodge No. 1, Victoria Source

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