John R. Boyle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Robert Boyle (born: February 3, 1871 Sykeston, Ontario died: 1936) was a politician teacher and lawyer in Alberta, Canada, serving as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party. He also served as a provincial judge.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
John was born in Sykeston, Ontario on February 3, 1871. John began working as a teacher immediately after finishing high school, to afford to go to law school. He moved to Regina then in the Northwest Territories and began law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1899.
[edit] Early political career
John was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the first time in the 1905 Alberta general election. He defeated Conservative Frank Knight in a landslide. He served as a backbencher in the Alexander Cameron Rutherford government.
He won his second term in office being acclaimed in the 1909 Alberta general election.
The Alberta Liberal government under Rutherford became mired in the Great Waters Railway Scandal, John was the leader of a caucus rebellion that led to the ultimate resignation and electoral defeat of Premier Rutherford.
[edit] Minister of Education
When Arthur Sifton became premier in 1912 he rewarded Mr. Boyle with the Education portfolio. John ran in a ministerial by-election in his riding on May 27, 1912 and handily defeated A.W. Taylor of the Conservatives.
John was re-elected to his third term in office 1 year later in the 1913 Alberta general election.
He would serve his 4th term after once again winning re-election in the 1917 Alberta general election and continue to serve in the ministry.
[edit] Leader of the Alberta Liberals
John was his final term in office in the 1921 Alberta general election. In this election he would run in 2 ridings, his home riding of Sturgeon and the reconstituted riding of Edmonton.
He would be defeated by Samuel Carson from the United Farmers of Alberta in Sturgeon, but his 4th place showing in the block vote in Edmonton was good enough to retain a seat. The Liberals ended up returning members in all 5 Edmonton seats. He was 1 of only 3 politicians in Alberta history to run in multiple ridings in the same election.
The Liberal party across the rest of the province did not fare as well and John would became leader of the Alberta Liberal Party after the the resignation of Charles Stewart.
He served as leader of the provincial liberals until his appointment to the judiciary in 1924. He was replaced by veteran liberal Charles R. Mitchell.
He was also the last original Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to retire.
[edit] Late life
He served as a judge until his death in 1936.
The Village of Boyle, Alberta was named in his honor.
[edit] External links
- Legislative Assembly of Alberta Hansard August 24, 2006
- Legislative Assembly of Alberta members list
- Village of Boyle History
| Preceded by New District |
MLA Sturgeon 1905-1921 |
Succeeded by Samuel Carson |
| Preceded by Charles Cross Albert Ewing |
MLA Edmonton 1921-1924 |
Succeeded by William T. Henry |
| Preceded by Charles Stewart |
Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party 1921–1924 |
Succeeded by Charles R. Mitchell |
| Preceded by Albert Ewing |
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta 1921–1924 |
Succeeded by Charles R. Mitchell |
