Harlan Carey Brewster Explained

Harlan Carey Brewster
Order:18th
Office:Premier of British Columbia
Predecessor:William John Bowser
Successor:John Oliver
Lieutenant Governor:Francis Stillman Barnard
Term Start:November 23, 1916
Term End:March 1, 1918
Office1:MLA for Alberni
Term Start1:February 2, 1907
Term End1:March 28, 1912
Predecessor1:William Wallace Burns McInnes
Successor1:John George Corry Wood
Term Start2:September 14, 1916
Term End2:March 1, 1918
Predecessor2:John George Corry Wood
Successor2:Richard Pateman Wallis
Office3:MLA for Victoria City
Term Start3:March 4, 1916
Term End3:March 1, 1918
Predecessor3:Richard McBride
Successor3:Richard Pateman Wallis
Alongside3:Henry Frederick William Behnsen, Frederick Davey, Henry Broughton Thomson, George Bell, Henry Charles Hall, John Hart
Birth Date:10 November 1870
Birth Place:Harvey, New Brunswick
Death Place:Calgary, Alberta
Nationality:Canadian
Party:Liberal
Children:1 son and 3 daughters
Occupation:salmon canner
Profession:politician

Harlan Carey Brewster (November 10, 1870 – March 1, 1918) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Brewster arrived in British Columbia in 1893 and had various careers working on a ship and then in a cannery. He eventually became owner of his own canning company. He was elected to the provincial legislature in the 1907 election and was one of only two Liberals elected to the legislature in the 1909 election.

Brewster became leader of the opposition, and was elected party leader in March 1912. He lost his seat a few weeks later in the 1912 election, which returned no Liberals at all. In 1916, he won election to the legislature again through a by-election, and led his party to victory in a general election later that year by campaigning on a reform platform. Brewster promised to end patronage in the civil service, end political machines, improve workmen's compensation and labour laws, bring in votes for women, and other progressive reforms.

In government, Brewster brought in women's suffrage, instituted prohibition, and combatted political corruption before his unexpected death in 1918. He is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia.

He also served as Minister of Finance between February 15, 1917 and June 11, 1917.

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