Alexander Edmund Batson Davie
| Alexander Edmund Batson Davie | |
|---|---|
 Hon. Alexander Edmund Batson Davie | |
| 8th Premier of British Columbia | |
|
In office April 1, 1887 – August 1, 1889 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Lieutenant Governor | Hugh Nelson |
| Preceded by | William Smithe |
| Succeeded by | John Robson |
| MLA for Cariboo | |
|
In office September 11, 1875 – May 22, 1878 Serving with George Anthony Walkem, John Evans | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Hunter |
| Succeeded by | George Cowan |
| MLA for Lillooet | |
|
In office July 24, 1882 – August 1, 1889 Serving with Edward Allen | |
| Preceded by | William Brown |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Wellington Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 24, 1847 Somerset, England |
| Died |
August 1, 1889 (aged 41) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Political party | None |
| Spouse(s) | Constance Langford Skinner (m. 1874) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Alexander Edmund Batson Davie, QC who is usually referred to as A. E. B. Davie, (November 24, 1847 – August 1, 1889) was a British Columbia politician and lawyer, and was premier of British Columbia from 1887 until his death.
Called to the bar in 1873, he was the first person to receive his entire law education in British Columbia. Davie was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1875 from the riding of Lillooet and began as a supporter of the government of George Anthony Walkem, but soon joined the Opposition. He lost his seat in 1877 after a brief stint in the cabinet of Premier Andrew Charles Elliott, as provincial secretary. Davie returned to the legislature in 1882 and became Attorney-General under Premier William Smithe. He went to Ottawa and argued before the Supreme Court of Canada in favour of provincial rights pleading that the province had a right to regulate its liquour sales. When Smithe died in 1887, the lieutenant-governor asked Davie to become Premier but he fell ill within months and left for California to recuperate. In his absence, Provincial Secretary John Robson ran the government on a day-to-day basis, though Davie kept in touch through letters. He returned in May 1888, but his health was in a poor state, and he ultimately died in office. His brother, Theodore Davie, later became premier in 1892.
Davie Street in Vancouver is named for him. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in September 1883.
Davie was married December 3, 1874, to Constance Langford Skinner of Maple Bay, British Columbia. They had four children.[1] Alexander Edmund Batson Davie is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia.
