John Oliver (British Columbia politician)
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2022) |
John Oliver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 19th Premier of British Columbia | |
| In office March 6, 1918 – August 17, 1927 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Lieutenant Governor | Francis Stillman Barnard Edward Gawler Prior Walter Cameron Nichol Robert Randolph Bruce |
| Preceded by | Harlan Carey Brewster |
| Succeeded by | John Duncan MacLean |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Westminster-Delta | |
| In office June 9, 1900 – October 3, 1903 | |
| Preceded by | William Thomas Forster |
| Succeeded by | district abolished |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Delta | |
| In office October 3, 1903 – November 25, 1909 | |
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Dewdney | |
| In office September 14, 1916 – December 1, 1920 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Manson |
| Succeeded by | John Alexander Catherwood |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Victoria City | |
| In office December 1, 1920 – June 20, 1924 | |
| Preceded by | George Bell Harlan Carey Brewster Henry Charles Hall John Hart |
| Succeeded by | Reginald Hayward |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Nelson | |
| In office August 23, 1924 – August 17, 1927 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Campbell |
| Succeeded by | James Albert McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1856 Hartington, England |
| Died | August 17, 1927 (aged 71) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Political party | BC Liberal |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Woodward (m. 1886) |
| Children | 5 sons and 3 daughters |
John Oliver (July 31, 1856 – August 17, 1927) was a British-Canadian politician and farmer, who served as the 19th premier of British Columbia. As a prominent figure in the province’s early political landscape, Oliver served in various capacities, including as leader of the Opposition and minister of Agriculture, and contributed significantly to the development of British Columbia’s agricultural and railway sectors.
A member of the former British Columbia Liberal Party, Oliver was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1900 provincial election. After serving as the leader of the Opposition, he lost his seat in 1909 but returned the legislature in the 1916 election. That year, he was appointed minister of Agriculture and minister of Railways in premier Harlan Carey Brewster's cabinet. Following Brewster's death in 1918, Oliver succeeded him as premier.
In addition to his role as premier, Oliver held the portfolios of minister of Agriculture (1918), minister of Railways (1918–1922), and minister of industry (1919–1922). Under his leadership, his administration prioritized agricultural development, notably in the Okanagan Valley, which became a hub for the province's produce industry. Oliver's government also advocated for reduced rail freight rates to improve the economic viability of British Columbia’s agricultural exports.
A notable moment in Oliver's tenure was the 1923 visit of U.S. president Warren G. Harding to Vancouver, marking the first visit of a sitting U.S. president to Canada.
Oliver served as premier until his death in 1927. His legacy endures through numerous places named in his honor, including John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver, John Oliver Park in Delta, Mount John Oliver in the Cariboo Mountains' Premier Range, the town of Oliver, British Columbia, and Oliver Street in Williams Lake, British Columbia.
Electoral history
[edit]| 1900 British Columbia general election: Westminster-Delta | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Government | John Oliver | 324 | 45.51 | |||||
| Conservative | John Walter Berry | 215 | 30.20 | |||||
| Progressive | Thomas William Forster | 173 | 24.30 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 712 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Henry Ladner | 309 | 40.87% | unknown | ||
| Liberal | John Oliver | 447 | 59.13% | unknown | ||
| Total valid votes | 756 | 100.00% | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||
| Turnout | % | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 261 | 37.77% | unknown | ||
| Liberal | John Oliver | 430 | 62.23% | unknown | ||
| Total valid votes | 691 | 100.00% | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||
| Turnout | % | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 765 | 58.13% | unknown | ||
| Liberal | John Oliver | 551 | 41.87% | unknown | ||
| Total valid votes | 1,316 | 100.00% | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||
| Turnout | % | |||||
| 1 Results of recount as reported in New Westminster Columbian 29 November 1909, p. 1 | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 748 | 70.83% | unknown | ||
| Liberal | John Oliver | 308 | 29.17% | unknown | ||
| Total valid votes | 1,056 | 100.00% | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||
| Turnout | % | |||||
| 1920 British Columbia general election: Delta | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Liberal | John Oliver | 1,334 | 37.50 | |||||
| Soldier–Farmer | Richmond Archie Payne | 1,107 | 31.12 | |||||
| Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 964 | 21.55 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 3,557 | 100.00 | ||||||
References
[edit]- "John Oliver". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
