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British Columbian Premiers
British Columbia has had thirty-three Premiers since joining Confederation in 1871 — thirteen of them were freemasons.
13/11/1871-
23/12/1872
. John Foster McCreight . (b.1827-d.1913) 1 Resigned after vote of non-confidence.
23/12/1872-
11/2/1874
. Amor De Cosmos . (b.1825-d.1897) 1 Resigned to contest federal election. Vacated seat.
11/2/1874-
1/2/1876
. George Anthony Walkem . (b.1834-d.1908) 1 &2 Resigned after vote of non-confidence (lost legislative support in fall 1875 election).
25/6/1878-
13/6/1882
. . . 3 Resigned upon appointment to B.C. Supreme Court. Vacated seat.
13/6/1882-
29/1/1883
. Robert Beaven . (b.1836-d.1920) 4 Resigned after vote of non-confidence.
1/51887-
1/8/1889
. Alexander Edmund Batson Davie . (b.1847-d.1889) 5 Died in office.
4/3/1895-
15/8/1898
. John Herbert Turner . (b.1834-d.1923) 7 Dismissed by Lieutenant-Governor following apparent electoral defeat.
21/11/1902-
1/6/1903
. Edward Gawler Prior . (b.1853-d.1920) 9 Dismissed by Lieutenant-Governor for conflict of interest.
1/6/1903-
15/12/1915
. Sir Richard McBride . Con (b.1870-d.1917) 9-13 Resigned to become Agent-General. Vacated seat.
15/12/1915-
23/11/1916
. William John Bowser . Con (b.1867-d.1933) 13th Resigned after party defeat in September 1916 election but waited until November because of delay in counting soldiers' votes.
23/11/1916-
1/3/1918
. Harlan Carey Brewster . Lib (b.1870-d.1918) 14 Died in office.
20/8/1927-
2/8/1928
. John Duncan MacLean . Lib (b.1873-d.1948) 16 Resigned after personal and party defeat in July 1928 election.
29/12/1947-
1/8/1952
. Byron Ingemar Johnson . Lib (b.1890-d.1964) 21-22 Resigned after personal and party defeat in June 1952 election.
1/8/1952-
15/9/1972
. William Andrew Cecil Bennett . SC (b.1900-d.1979) 23-29 Resigned after party defeat in August 1972 election.
. . . . . . . . .
Tabulated information supplied by British Columbia Archives.
Biographical notes excerpted from "Portraits of the Premiers," by Sydney W. Jackman [Gray’s Publishing Ltd., Sidney, B.C.: 1969.]
Masonic information derived from "History of Grand Lodge of British Columbia, 1871-1970, compiled by
John T. Marshall. [pp. 619-622.] Copies can be viewed in the Grand Lodge Library.

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© 1871-2023 Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon A.F. & A. M. Updated: February 28, 2001
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