Alexander Edmund Batson Davie
Encyclopedia
Alexander Edmund Batson Davie, QC
who is usually referred to as A. E. B. Davie, (born in Wells
, Somerset
, November 24, 1847 – August 1, 1889 Victoria, British Columbia
) was a British Columbia
politician
and lawyer, and was premier of British Columbia from 1887 until his death.
Called to the bar
in 1873 he was the first person to receive his entire law education in British Columbia. Davie was first elected to the provincial legislature
in 1875 from the riding of Lillooet
and began as a supporter of the government of George Anthony Walkem
but soon joined the Opposition. He lost his seat in 1877 after a brief stint in the cabinet
of Premier
Andrew Charles Elliott
as provincial secretary. Davie returned to the legislature in 1882 and became Attorney-General under Premier William Smithe
. He went to Ottawa and argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
in favour of provincial rights pleading that the province had a right to regulate its liquor sales. When Smithe died in 1887 the lieutenant-governor asked Davie to become Premier but he fell ill within months and left for California
to recuperate. In his absence Provincial Secretary
John Robson
ran the government on a day to day basis though Davie kept in touch through letters. He returned in May 1888 but his health was in poor state and he ultimately died in office. His brother, Theodore Davie
would himself become premier in 1892.
Davie Street in Vancouver
is named for him. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in September 1883.
Davie was married December 3, 1874, to Constance Langford of Maple Bay, British Columbia
. They had four children.http://web.uvic.ca/vv/content_files/new_index/colonist8912.html Alexander Edmund Batson Davie is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery
in Victoria, British Columbia
.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
who is usually referred to as A. E. B. Davie, (born in Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, November 24, 1847 – August 1, 1889 Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
) was a British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer, and was premier of British Columbia from 1887 until his death.
Called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1873 he was the first person to receive his entire law education in British Columbia. Davie was first elected to the provincial legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in 1875 from the riding of Lillooet
Lillooet (electoral district)
The Lillooet electoral district was a riding in the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the town of the same name and with various boundaries...
and began as a supporter of the government of George Anthony Walkem
George Anthony Walkem
George Anthony "Boomer" Walkem was a British Columbian politician and jurist.Born in Newry, Ireland, Walkem moved to then Colony of British Columbia in 1862 and served as a member of the appointed Legislative Council of British Columbia from 1864 to 1870 and was a supporter of Canadian confederation...
but soon joined the Opposition. He lost his seat in 1877 after a brief stint in the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Andrew Charles Elliott
Andrew Charles Elliott
Andrew Charles Elliott was a British Columbian politician and jurist. Elliott's varied career in British Columbia included Gold Commissioner, stipendiary magistrate and, following the union of the Island and Mainland Colonies in 1866 was appoint High Sheriff of the province, resigning his...
as provincial secretary. Davie returned to the legislature in 1882 and became Attorney-General under Premier William Smithe
William Smithe
William Smithe was a British Columbia politician.Smithe was born William Smith in England and moved to Canada in his youth, settling on Vancouver Island in 1862 as a farmer. In 1871, he ran in BC's first election and won a seat in the new provincial legislature...
. He went to Ottawa and argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
in favour of provincial rights pleading that the province had a right to regulate its liquor sales. When Smithe died in 1887 the lieutenant-governor asked Davie to become Premier but he fell ill within months and left for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to recuperate. In his absence Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
John Robson
John Robson
John Robson was a Canadian journalist and politician, who served as the ninth Premier of the Province of British Columbia.-Journalist and activist:...
ran the government on a day to day basis though Davie kept in touch through letters. He returned in May 1888 but his health was in poor state and he ultimately died in office. His brother, Theodore Davie
Theodore Davie
Theodore Davie was a British Columbia lawyer, politician and jurist. He practiced law in Cassiar and Nanaimo before settling in Victoria and becoming a leading criminal lawyer. He was the brother of Alexander Edmund Batson Davie. Theodore Davie was first elected to the provincial legislature in...
would himself become premier in 1892.
Davie Street in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
is named for him. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in September 1883.
Davie was married December 3, 1874, to Constance Langford of Maple Bay, British Columbia
Maple Bay, British Columbia
Maple Bay is a picturesque seaside community located in the Cowichan Valley of southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A narrow inlet and surrounded by smooth, pebbled beaches, Maple Bay is home to marine activity all year round....
. They had four children.http://web.uvic.ca/vv/content_files/new_index/colonist8912.html Alexander Edmund Batson Davie is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery is located at 1516 Fairfield Road in Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, Canada.-History:The cemetery was opened in 1873. The 27.5 acre cemetery is part of a public park and its south side faces Ross Bay on the Pacific Ocean...
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.