Alexander Edmund Batson Davie

Who was Alexander Edmund Batson Davie?

Alexander Edmund Batson Davie, QC who is usually referred to as A. E. B. Davie, 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.