William Davidson (British Columbia politician)
Encyclopedia
William Davidson was a Scottish
-born miner and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented Slocan
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1903 to 1907.
He was born in Aberdeenshire
, the son of Andrew Davidson, and was educated in New Brunswick
. In 1900, Davidson married Bridget Walsh. He was nominated as a candidate by the Slocan Labour Party, which was based on the 1902 Provincial Progressive Party and also supported by the Socialists. In the provincial assembly, Davidson aligned himself with the Socialist
members Parker Williams
and James Hurst Hawthornthwaite
. Because Premier Richard McBride
only held a slim majority in the assembly, he often required support from the Socialists, which meant that they were able to push for progressive legislation, such as the eight hour work day for miners, in the province. Davidson was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1907.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born miner and political figure in British Columbia
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...
. He represented Slocan
Slocan (electoral district)
Slocan was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It made its first appearance in the election of 1903 and its last in the general election of 1920...
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1903 to 1907.
He was born in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, the son of Andrew Davidson, and was educated in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. In 1900, Davidson married Bridget Walsh. He was nominated as a candidate by the Slocan Labour Party, which was based on the 1902 Provincial Progressive Party and also supported by the Socialists. In the provincial assembly, Davidson aligned himself with the Socialist
Socialist Party of Canada
There have been two different but related political parties in Canada that called themselves the Socialist Party of Canada . The current Socialist Party is an electorally inactive and unregistered federal political party in Canada...
members Parker Williams
Parker Williams
Parker Williams was a Welsh-born coal miner and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Newcastle in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1903 to 1918 as a Socialist and later as an independent Socialist.He worked as a coal miner in Wales, Alberta and Washington state...
and James Hurst Hawthornthwaite
James Hurst Hawthornthwaite
James Hurst Hawthornthwaite was an Irish-born land agent, businessman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Nanaimo City from 1901 to 1908 and from 1909 to 1912 as a Socialist and Newcastle from 1918 to 1920 as an Independent Socialist in the Legislative Assembly of British...
. Because Premier Richard McBride
Richard McBride
Sir Richard McBride, KCMG was a British Columbian politician and is often considered the founder of the British Columbia Conservative Party. McBride was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1898 election, and served in the cabinet of James Dunsmuir from 1900 to 1901...
only held a slim majority in the assembly, he often required support from the Socialists, which meant that they were able to push for progressive legislation, such as the eight hour work day for miners, in the province. Davidson was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1907.