William Ashbury Buchanan
Encyclopedia
William Ashbury Buchanan, (born: July 2, 1876 South Monaghan, Ontario
died: July 12, 1954) was a journalist, publisher and politician based in Alberta
.
Following a career as a journalist in Ontario, Buchanan moved to Alberta
and purchased the Lethbridge Weekly Herald
in 1905. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to turn the paper into a daily in 1907 but it soon resumed a weekly publishing schedule.
Buchanan entered provincial politics when he contested the riding of Lethbridge City
on behalf of the Alberta Liberal Party
in the 1909 provincial election
and won a seat in the Alberta Legislature. He switched to federal politics in the 1911 federal election
and was elected for the seat of Medicine Hat
as a federal Liberal
.
As a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917
, Buchanan crossed the floor to support the government of Sir Robert Laird Borden. He was re-elected to the Canadian House of Commons
as a Unionist for the new riding of Lethbridge
in the 1917 general election
. He did not run in the 1921 election
.
Buchanan was named to the Canadian Senate
at the age of 49 in 1925 and served until his death in 1954 for the Liberal Party of Canada
. Hecontinued as owner of the Lethbridge Herald until his death.
A malignant growth was discovered in Buchanan's body sometime in August 1953 and he died on July 12, 1954, ten days after celebrating his 78th birthday.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
died: July 12, 1954) was a journalist, publisher and politician based in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
Following a career as a journalist in Ontario, Buchanan moved to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and purchased the Lethbridge Weekly Herald
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge Herald is the leading paper in the Lethbridge, Alberta area, with an average weekday circulation of 18,185 in the six-month period ending March 31, 2007. This local paper has been serving southern Alberta since 1905....
in 1905. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to turn the paper into a daily in 1907 but it soon resumed a weekly publishing schedule.
Buchanan entered provincial politics when he contested the riding of Lethbridge City
Lethbridge City
Lethbridge City was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada.The riding was created after Lethbridge split into Lethbridge City and Lethbridge District in 1909.Lethbridge district was all the rural area surrounding the City of Lethbridge....
on behalf of the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
in the 1909 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
and won a seat in the Alberta Legislature. He switched to federal politics in the 1911 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
and was elected for the seat of Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat (electoral district)
Medicine Hat is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1908. The riding covers the City of Medicine Hat and surrounding areas on the southeast side of Alberta – including Cypress County, Forty Mile County, the Municipal...
as a federal Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
As a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
, Buchanan crossed the floor to support the government of Sir Robert Laird Borden. He was re-elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Unionist for the new riding of Lethbridge
Lethbridge (electoral district)
Lethbridge is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
in the 1917 general election
Canadian federal election, 1917
The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17, 1917, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Canada. Described by historian Michael Bliss as the "most bitter election in Canadian history", it was fought mainly over the issue of conscription...
. He did not run in the 1921 election
Canadian federal election, 1921
The Canadian federal election of 1921 was held on December 6, 1921 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Canada. The Union government that had governed Canada through the First World War was defeated, and replaced by a Liberal government under the young leader...
.
Buchanan was named to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
at the age of 49 in 1925 and served until his death in 1954 for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. Hecontinued as owner of the Lethbridge Herald until his death.
A malignant growth was discovered in Buchanan's body sometime in August 1953 and he died on July 12, 1954, ten days after celebrating his 78th birthday.