British Columbian premiers British Columbia has had thirty-four premiers since joining Confederation in 1871 — thirteen of them were freemasons. 13/11/1871- 23/12/1872 . John Foster McCreight . (1827-1913) 1 Resigned after vote of non-confidence. 23/12/1872- 11/2/1874 . Amor De Cosmos . (1825-1897) 1 Resigned to contest federal election. Vacated seat. 11/2/1874- 1/2/1876 . George Anthony Walkem . (1834-1908) 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 . (1836-1920) 4 Resigned after vote of non-confidence. 1/51887- 1/8/1889 . A.E.B. Davie . (1847-1889) 5 Died in office. 4/3/1895- 15/8/1898 . John Herbert Turner . (1834-1923) 7 Dismissed by Lieutenant-Governor following apparent electoral defeat. 21/11/1902- 1/6/1903 . Edward Gawler Prior . (1853-1920) 9 Dismissed by Lieutenant-Governor for conflict of interest. 1/6/1903- 15/12/1915 . Sir Richard McBride . Con (1870-1917) 9-13 Resigned to become Agent-General. Vacated seat. 15/12/1915- 23/11/1916 . William John Bowser . Con (1867-1933) 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 (1870-1918) 14 Died in office. 20/8/1927- 2/8/1928 . John Duncan MacLean . Lib (1873-1948) 16 Resigned after personal and party defeat in July 1928 election. 29/12/1947- 1/8/1952 . Byron Ingemar Johnson . Lib (1890-1964) 21-22 Resigned after personal and party defeat in June 1952 election. 1/8/1952- 15/9/1972 . William Andrew Cecil Bennett . SC (1900-1979) 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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