Harlan Carey Brewster

Harlan Carey Brewster (November 10, 1870 – March 1, 1918) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Brewster arrived in British Columbia in 1893 and had various careers working on a ship and then in a cannery. He eventually became owner of his own canning company. He was elected to the provincial legislature in the 1907 election and was one of only two Liberals elected to the legislature in the 1909 election.

Harlan Carey Brewster
18th Premier of British Columbia
In office November 23, 1916 – March 1, 1918
Monarch	George V
Lieutenant Governor	Francis Stillman Barnard
Preceded by	William John Bowser
Succeeded by	John Oliver
MLA for Alberni
In office February 2, 1907 – March 28, 1912
Preceded by	William Wallace Burns McInnes
Succeeded by	John George Corry Wood
In office September 14, 1916 – March 1, 1918
Preceded by	John George Corry Wood
Succeeded by	Richard Pateman Wallis
MLA for Victoria City
In office March 4, 1916 – March 1, 1918 Serving with Henry Frederick William Behnsen, Frederick Davey, Henry Broughton Thomson, George Bell, Henry Charles Hall, John Hart
Preceded by	Richard McBride
Succeeded by	Richard Pateman Wallis
Personal details
Born	(1870-11-10)November 10, 1870 Harvey, New Brunswick
Died	March 1, 1918(1918-03-01) (aged 47) Calgary, Alberta
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Annie Lucinda Downie ​ ​ (m. 1892)​
Children	1 son and 3 daughters
Occupation	salmon canner
Profession	politician

Brewster became leader of the opposition, and was elected party leader in March 1912. He lost his seat a few weeks later in the 1912 election, which returned no Liberals at all. In 1916, he won election to the legislature again through a by-election, and led his party to victory in a general election later that year by campaigning on a reform platform. Brewster promised to end patronage in the civil service, end political machines, improve workmen's compensation and labour laws, bring in votes for women, and other progressive reforms.

In government, Brewster brought in women's suffrage, instituted prohibition, and combatted political corruption before his unexpected death in 1918. He is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia.

He also served as Minister of Finance between February 15, 1917 and June 11, 1917.

External links

• Works by or about Harlan Carey Brewster at the Internet Archive
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online