Donald Farquharson (politician)

Donald Farquharson
8th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
August 1898  December 29, 1901
Monarch Victoria
Edward VII
Lieutenant Governor George William Howlan
Peter Adolphus McIntyre
Preceded by Alexander B. Warburton
Succeeded by Arthur Peters
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office
1898–1901
Preceded by Alexander B. Warburton
Succeeded by Arthur Peters
Personal details
Born July 27, 1834
Mermaid, Prince Edward Island
Died June 26, 1903 (aged 68)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Nationality Canadian
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Dopsin May Edwards Smith (m. 1860)
Sarah Moore (m. 1870)
Children Laura, Seymour, Alfred, May (died in 1901), Fanny, Lauretta, and Charles
Residence Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Alma mater University of Prince Edward Island
Occupation teacher, merchant, and newspaper director
Profession Politician
Cabinet Minister without Portfolio (1878–1879) (1891–1898)
Religion Presbyterian

Donald Farquharson (July 27, 1834 – June 26, 1903) served as the eighth Premier of Prince Edward Island.

A native of Mermaid, Farquharson had been a teacher and then a businessman involved in wholesale and shipping. He was elected to the legislature as a Liberal in 1876 and joined the government of Louis Henry Davies in 1878 until the Davies administration fell the next year. Farquharson sat in opposition until the Liberals won the 1891 election. He became Premier in August 1898 but, in 1901, he was persuaded to run in a by-election to the federal House of Commons since PEI Liberals hoped that as a former Premier, he would be elevated to the Canadian cabinet guaranteeing the island's representation in government. Farquharson won the by-election but Sir Wilfrid Laurier appointed a westerner to cabinet instead leaving Farquharson on the backbenches until his death in 1903.

During Farquharson's premiership the provincial legislature passed the Prohibition Act (or Scott Act) which implemented a complete ban on alcohol sales and production in the province starting in 1901. It would not be repealed until 1948.

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