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Prior was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1886. In 1888, Prior won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative. From December 1895 to July 1896 and 1897 Prior served as Controller of Inland Revenue in the cabinets of Prime Minister Sir Mackenzie Bowell and his successor Sir Charles Tupper.
He lost his seat in 1901 due to violations of election rules. He moved to provincial politics and was elected to the British Columbia legislature in 1901 becoming minister of mines. In 1902 he became Premier leading the province's last non-partisan administration but was dismissed by the lieutenant-governor in 1903 due to charges of conflict of interest that involved giving an important construction contract to his own hardware buisiness, and lost his seat in the 1904 provincial election. He was also defeated that year in an attempt to return to the federal House of Commons.
Prior was appointed lieutenant-governor in 1919 but became ill and died in office within a year of his appointment.
Edward Gawler Prior is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia.
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Preceded by: James DunsmuirJames Dunsmuir (1851-1920) was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Heir to his family's coal fortune, the Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour. 1900-1902 |
Premier of British ColumbiaThis is a list of the premiers of British Columbia, Canada, since it joined Confederation in 1871. Note that party politics were not introduced until 1903. Premier FromToParty John Foster McCreight 1871- 11-13 1872- 12-23 Non-party Amor De Cosmos 1872- 12 1902-1903 |
Succeeded by: Richard McBrideSir Richard McBride (1870-1917) was a British Columbian politician and founder of the British Columbia Conservative Party. McBride was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1898 and served in the cabinet of James Dunsmuir from 1900 to 1901. McBri 1903-1915 |