Robert Beaven
| Robert Beaven | |
|---|---|
Hon. Robert Beaven
|
|
| 6th Premier of British Columbia | |
|
In office June 13, 1882 – January 29, 1883 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Lieutenant Governor | Clement Francis Cornwall |
| Preceded by | George Anthony Walkem |
| Succeeded by | William Smithe |
| MLA for Victoria City | |
|
In office October 16, 1871 – July 7, 1894 Serving with John Foster McCreight, Simeon Duck, James Trimble, James W. Douglas, Andrew Charles Elliott, James Smith Drummond, John W. Williams, William Wilson, Theodore Davie, Montague Tyrwhitt-Drake, Edward Gawler Prior, John Herbert Turner, John Grant, George Lawson Milne |
|
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | John Braden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 20, 1836 England |
| Died |
September 18, 1920 (aged 84) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Political party | None |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Sibbald Ritchie (m. 1866) |
| Religion | Anglican |
Robert Beaven (January 20, 1836 – September 18, 1920), son of James Beaven, was a British Columbia politician and businessman. Beaven moved to British Columbia from Toronto, where he had been educated at Upper Canada College, because of the gold rush. He entered business in Victoria, which was then the capital of the Colony of Vancouver Island. After the colony's union with British Columbia, Beaven became involved with politics as secretary of Amor De Cosmos' Confederation League which advocated that the colony enter Canadian confederation.
Beaven was elected to the provincial legislature in 1871, the year of union with Canada and served in the cabinets of De Cosmos and his successor George Anthony Walkem as chief commissioner of land and works. He was accused by the opposition of corruption and was criticised for not opening up land for settlement quickly enough as well as running up the deficit. Beaven was in opposition during the government of Andrew Charles Elliott but rejoined the government when Walkem became premier for a second time in 1878 and became minister of finance and agriculture. Due to a shortage of revenues he instituted a poll tax in 1881. In 1882 Beaven became premier of the province but many of his supporters were defeated in the subsequent July election and Beaven ruled with a minority.
As Premier he hosted the three-month visit to British Columbia of the Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Lorne, and his wife Princess Louise, offering to make the princess Queen of Vancouver Island. She declined.
...
Wikipedia