Alexander Warburton Explained

Alexander Warburton
Order:7th
Office:Premier of Prince Edward Island
Predecessor:Frederick Peters
Successor:Donald Farquharson
Lieutenant Governor:George William Howlan
Term Start:October 1, 1897
Term End:August 1, 1898
Office1:Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
Predecessor1:Frederick Peters
Successor1:Donald Farquharson
Term Start1:October 1, 1897
Term End1:August 1, 1898
Office2:Member of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island for 1st Queens
Predecessor2:James Miller Sutherland
Successor2:district abolished
Alongside2:Peter Sinclair
Term Start2:May 29, 1891
Term End2:December 13, 1893
Office3:MLA (Councillor) for 1st Queens
Predecessor3:himself
Successor3:William Campbell
Term Start3:December 13, 1893
Term End3:August 1, 1898
Riding4:Queen's
Parliament4:Canadian
Term Start4:October 26, 1908
Term End4:September 21, 1911
Predecessor4:Angus A. McLean
Alexander Martin
Successor4:Angus A. McLean
Donald Nicholson
Alongside4:Lemuel E. Prowse
Birth Date:5 April 1852
Birth Place:Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Death Place:Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Nationality:Canadian
Spouse:
Party:Liberal
Otherparty:Liberal
Children:3
Alma Mater:St. Dunstan's College
King's College
University of Edinburgh
Occupation:lawyer, judge, and author
Profession:Politician

Alexander Bannerman Warburton (April 5, 1852  - January 14, 1929) was a politician, jurist and author, who served as the seventh premier of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Alexander was born in Summerside, the son of James Warburton, who was a member of the provincial assembly. Named after Lieut. Governor, Sir Alexander Bannerman, he was educated in Summerside, at St. Dunstan's College, King's College in Nova Scotia and the University of Edinburgh. He was called to the bar in 1879. He was a director for the Patriot Publishing Company and the Eastern Assurance Company of Canada.

Warburton was first elected to the province's House of Assembly in 1891 as a Liberal, and was re-elected in 1893 and 1897. He became premier of the province on October 27, 1897, when his predecessor resigned to move to British Columbia. Warburton only served in the position for eight months until resigning in June 1898 to accept a judicial appointment.

In the 1908 federal election, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), but lost his seat in the 1911 election that defeated the Laurier Liberals. He attempted to return to the House but was again defeated in the 1917 election. In 1920, Warburton returned to the bench as a judge on probate court and held that position until his death.

Warburton wrote two books on the history of the island, Prince Edward Island, Past and Present in 1905, and A History of Prince Edward Island which was published posthumously in 1923. Prior to entering politics, Warburton started a movement to beautify Charlottetown which resulting in the planting of more than 800 trees along main thoroughfares and in public squares, many of which stand to this day.

References