James Harper Prowse

James Harper Prowse Jr. (November 3, 1913 – September 27, 1976), was a serviceman, provincial and federal politician, barrister and solicitor from Canada. Prowse served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1945 to 1959 sitting as an independent and a Liberal in opposition. He led the Alberta Liberal Party from 1948 to 1958 and later served as a senator for Alberta from 1966 until his death in 1976.

Early life

James Harper Prowse Jr. was born in Taber, Alberta, on November 3, 1913. He took his post secondary education at the University of Alberta.

World War II

Prowse enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940. He served five years overseas during the Second World War, obtaining the rank of captain. Prowse served most of the war in the Italian Campaign. He was wounded twice during combat. His army career ended after he was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1945 Service vote.^[1]

Provincial politics

Prowse was introduced to politics at a young age when his father, James Harper Prowse Sr., ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1926 Alberta general election in the electoral district of Taber.^[2]

Prowse ran for a seat to the legislature for the first time in the 1945 serviceman vote that was the last stage of the general election held that year. Prowse ran as a candidate in the army vote. He won the polls with 17% of the popular vote over 21 other candidates on February 5, 1945. The vote was non-partisan so Prowse sat as an independent in the legislature.^[3]

After winning election and returning to Edmonton Prowse became a journalist for the Edmonton Bulletin.^[4] Prowse crossed the floor to the Liberals after announcing his intention to run for leadership of the party on April 10, 1947. He defended his decision by saying, "The political situation has reached a point where there is no longer any advantage to be gained by remaining neutral."^[5]

Prowse was elected as leader of the party at the Liberals' annual convention on June 26, 1947. He won the required majority on the first ballot.^[1] The convention was well attended with 476 delegates from around the province voting. He defeated two other candidates, Jonathan Wheatly and Joseph Tremblay.^[6]

The serviceman seats were abolished due to the end of the Second World War. Prowse decided to contest a seat in the Edmonton electoral district for the 1948 Alberta general election. He won taking the fourth-place seat out of five in the district.^[7] Province-wide Prowse led the Liberal party to two seats including his and took 17% of the popular vote.

Prowse ran for a third term in office in the 1952 Alberta general election. He won the second-place seat in Edmonton.^[8] Province-wide Prowse led the Liberals to four seats and increased the popular vote to 22%.

Prowse led the Liberal party into his final term as leader in the 1955 Alberta general election. The Liberals made a big breakthrough winning 15 seats in the province and taking 31% of the popular vote. Prowse once again kept his seat in Edmonton winning the second-place seat.^[9]

Prowse stepped down as leader of the provincial Liberal party in 1958 and did not run for another term in office at dissolution of the assembly in 1959. He moved to the municipal arena making a bid for mayor of Edmonton in the 1959 Edmonton municipal election. He finished a close second in the four way race losing to Elmer Roper.^[10]

Federal politics

Prowse ran for a seat to the Canadian House of Commons for the first time in the 1962 federal election in the electoral district of Edmonton West as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada. He finished a close second out of four candidates, losing to incumbent Marcel Lambert and finishing ahead of former Member of Parliament Orvis Kennedy.^[11]

The minority parliament was dissolved less than a year later precipitating the need for the 1963 federal election. Prowse ran for his second time in a near rerun of the first race. Both Lamber and Prowse increased their popular votes, but Prowse still finished a close second.^[12]

Prowse was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1967 where he represented Edmonton until his death on September 27, 1976.^[13]

References

External links

• Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing