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.