Herbert Charles Wilson
Edmonton | |
|---|---|
| In office September 15, 1885 – November 7, 1891 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Oliver |
| Succeeded by | Frank Oliver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1859 Canada West[1] |
| Died | December 17, 1909 (aged 50) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Independent Liberal-Conservative[1][2] |
| Spouse |
Emily Charlotte Lee (m. 1885) |
| Occupation |
|
| Signature |  |
Herbert Charles Wilson (December 7, 1859 – December 17, 1909) was a Canadian politician and physician. He was an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories, representing Edmonton and also served as mayor of the Town of Edmonton, 1895-1897.
Wilson was born in 1859 in
Wilson interested himself in civic activities in Edmonton, and eventually ran for town mayor, winning election in 1895. He left office after less than two years in a dispute over town funds. He attempted a comeback in 1904, but was defeated in a run for the town council. He married in 1886, and had a son and two daughters. He died in 1909; an industrial park in the city is named for him.
Early life and education
Wilson was born in
After attending public
Early career
Wilson moved west to the town of
Wilson registered as a medical practitioner in the
Pressed for time by his recent marriage to Emily Lee earlier in the year, an increase in practice due to the town's rapid population growth and his increasing political roles, Wilson sold his drug store in 1886 to Philip Daly, who himself later was a town alderman, .[6] He then partnered with Herman McInnes in practice.
Politics
Wilson entered territorial politics when he ran to be the elected representative for the Edmonton district on the
In 1886, Wilson, along with William Dell Perley and James Hamilton Ross, was part of a delegation sent to Ottawa by the North-West Territories to deliver a council-agreed reply to the Speech from the throne.[8] He remained on the council until its abolition in 1888. That year the Council was re-constituted as an "Assembly" and he was elected to the first Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, along with his onetime opponent and fellow Edmontonian Frank Oliver.[9] (The Edmonton district elected two members at this time.)
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Wilson was nominated by
In 1888,
As Speaker, Wilson also helped revise the rules and forms of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and served on the Standing Committee on Standing Orders and Library.[10] In 1891, Wilson left territorial politics after 6 years, citing health reasons.[10] He was succeeded as speaker by James H. Ross.[11]
Post-territorial politics
Wilson returned to Edmonton after his retirement as speaker and continued to be an active community member.
Wilson spent a year in
Mayor of Edmonton
In the 1895 municipal election, Wilson was elected mayor of Edmonton, defeating John Alexander McDougall. Important issues in the election included choosing a site for the building of the High Level Bridge, securing funds for a hospital, and lowering high insurance rates.[12]
Wilson was acclaimed mayor in 1896, but resigned in October the same year due to a dispute over town funds, stating "I regret very much that this simple affair has assumed such a disgraceful form [and] had to be fought out in the manner".[12]
He attempted a comeback in 1904 by running for alderman for the newly formed City of Edmonton, but he was defeated, finishing fourteenth of seventeen candidates.[12]
Personal life
In
The Wilsons had a son, Charles Arthur (born 1887), and two daughters, Violet Henrietta (born 1890) and Marjorie (born 1894). Charles like his father attended
Death and legacy
Wilson died in Edmonton on December 17, 1909, at the age of 50, following a stroke. He had a history of health problems, including a neurological disorder.[13] His partner in medical practice, Herman McInnes, attended him in his final illness.[13] Wilson's funeral, which was held on December 19, had a procession that "extended for half a mile [and comprised] nearly one-hundred vehicles".[14] He was buried at the Edmonton Cemetery. In 1947, following the death of his wife, Emily, she was buried next to him.[13]
After his death, a newspaper stated that Wilson was "in the best sense of the phrase, a great practitioner of the old school, he was not in any sense an 'old fogey' of a doctor, rather, he made it a practice to visit eastern hospitals at frequent [sic] to keep in touch with medical progress".[13][15] He was also described as "an active, public-spirited citizen" of which "kindliness and geniality were outstanding qualities in his nature".[13]
Wilson Industrial Park in Edmonton was named in his honor in 1975.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d Perry, Footz 2006, p. 181.
- ^ a b Cochrane, William; Hopkins, J. Castell (1894). "The Canadian album : men of Canada; or, Success by example, in religion, patriotism, business, law, medicine, education and agriculture; containing portraits of some of Canada's chief business men, statesmen, farmers, men of the learned professions, and others; also, an authentic sketch of their lives; object lessons for the present generation and examples to posterity". Bradley, Garretson & Co. p. 85. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- user-generated source]
- ^ a b c d e Perry, Footz 2006, p. 182.
- ^ a b c d Perry, Footz 2006, p. 183.
- ^ "Biographies of Mayors and Councillors – W". Edmonton Public Library. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Perry, Footz 2006, p. 184.
- ^ Perry, Footz 2006, p. 185.
- ^ a b c d e Perry, Footz 2006, p. 186.
- ^ a b c Perry, Footz 2006, p. 187.
- ^ Perry, Footz 2006, p. 203.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Perry, Footz 2006, p. 188.
- ^ a b c d e f Perry, Footz 2006, p. 189.
- ^ "Funeral of Dr. H. C. Wilson". Edmonton Bulletin. December 20, 1909.
- ^ "The Late Dr. Wilson". Edmonton Capital. December 17, 1909.
Bibliography
- Perry, Sandra E.; Footz, Valerie L. (2006). A Higher Duty : Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of the North-West Territories and Alberta, 1888–2005. ISBN 0-9689217-3-6.