Robert Patterson (politician)

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Robert Patterson was a politician from Alberta, Canada.

Patterson was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in a by-election on October 3, 1910. He won election as a Farmers Choice candidate with a decisive victory defeating Liberal Edward Maunsell. He ran unopposed from the other major opposition parties represented at the time, the Conservatives and Socialists. His win was largely overshadowed by the defeat of Ezra Riley in the Gleichen by-election that occurred on the same day.^[1]

Patterson despite running under the farmers banner caucused with the opposition Conservatives in the Legislature. He was introduced to the Assembly by Edward Michener Conservative leader as is the custom for a party leader to do when a new member joins caucus. He was sworn and take his seat in the legislature on November 10, 1910 ^[2]

Patterson ran for a second term in office in the 1913 Alberta general election he barely defeated Premier Arthur Lewis Sifton in a high profile and hotly contested race. Sifton ran in 2 ridings in that election and managed to retain his seat in the Vermilion electoral district.

Patterson would suffer defeat running for his 3rd term in the Legislature. In the 1917 Alberta general election he would be defeated by George Skelding from the Liberal party by a plurality of 100 votes.