Alexander Malcolm Manson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Malcolm Manson (1883 – 25 September 1964) was a British Columbia
judge and politician in the Liberal Party
. Positions he held included Speaker
, Minister of Labour and Attorney General
. He was later appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia
.
, Manson studied at Osgoode Hall Law School
. In 1908, he became the first lawyer to practice in Prince Rupert, British Columbia
.
In the B.C. legislature, he represented the district of Omineca, where he was elected in 1916, and re-elected four times in the 1920s and 1930s. He was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
in 1921. From 12 April 1922 to 17 August 1927, he was both Attorney General and Minister of Labour in John Oliver
's Liberal government. As Attorney General, he was criticized for his handling of the 1924 Janet Smith murder case
, which would damage his political career. Nevertheless, he continued in this dual role in John Duncan MacLean
's government from 20 August 1927 to 20 August 1928. His legislative work included interest in liquor laws, narcotics laws
, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and game conservation laws.
In the mid-1920s, he also served as Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge
of British Columbia and Yukon.
In 1935, he attempted to enter federal politics, running for the Liberal Party of Canada
in the riding of Vancouver South
, but lost by less than 300 votes.
He served on the Supreme Court of British Columbia
from the 1930s until he retired in 1961.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
judge and politician in the Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
. Positions he held included Speaker
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the presiding officer of the British Columbia legislature.-The office of Speaker in British Columbia:...
, Minister of Labour and Attorney General
Attorney General of British Columbia
The Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia is a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province of British Columbia, Canada...
. He was later appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia
Supreme Court of British Columbia
The Supreme Court of British Columbia is the superior trial court for the province of British Columbia. The BCSC hears civil and criminal law cases as well as appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Including supernumerary judges, there are presently 108 judges...
.
Biography
After completing a bachelor's degree at the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Manson studied at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. In 1908, he became the first lawyer to practice in Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
.
In the B.C. legislature, he represented the district of Omineca, where he was elected in 1916, and re-elected four times in the 1920s and 1930s. He was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the presiding officer of the British Columbia legislature.-The office of Speaker in British Columbia:...
in 1921. From 12 April 1922 to 17 August 1927, he was both Attorney General and Minister of Labour in John Oliver
John Oliver (politician)
John Oliver was a politician and farmer in British Columbia, Canada.Oliver was involved in local politics when he won a seat in the provincial legislature in the 1900 election, and became leader of the opposition. He lost his seat in the 1909 election...
's Liberal government. As Attorney General, he was criticized for his handling of the 1924 Janet Smith murder case
Janet Smith case
The Janet Smith case concerns the murder of 22-year-old nursemaid Janet Kennedy Smith in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 26 July 1924, and the ensuing suspicions of a coverup.-Background:...
, which would damage his political career. Nevertheless, he continued in this dual role in John Duncan MacLean
John Duncan MacLean
John Duncan MacLean was a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th Premier of British Columbia, Canada....
's government from 20 August 1927 to 20 August 1928. His legislative work included interest in liquor laws, narcotics laws
Prohibition (drugs)
The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent drug use. Prohibition of drugs has existed at various levels of government or other authority from the Middle Ages to the present....
, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and game conservation laws.
In the mid-1920s, he also served as Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Grand Lodge
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
of British Columbia and Yukon.
In 1935, he attempted to enter federal politics, running for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the riding of Vancouver South
Vancouver South
Vancouver South is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1997, and since 2004. It covers the southern portion of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia....
, but lost by less than 300 votes.
He served on the Supreme Court of British Columbia
Supreme Court of British Columbia
The Supreme Court of British Columbia is the superior trial court for the province of British Columbia. The BCSC hears civil and criminal law cases as well as appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Including supernumerary judges, there are presently 108 judges...
from the 1930s until he retired in 1961.