John Oliver (British Columbia politician)

John Oliver (Hartington, England July 31, 1856 – August 17, 1927) was a politician and farmer in British Columbia, Canada.

John Oliver
19th Premier of British Columbia
In office March 6, 1918 – August 17, 1927
Monarch	George V
Lieutenant Governor	Francis Stillman Barnard Edward Gawler Prior Walter Cameron Nichol Robert Randolph Bruce
Preceded by	Harlan Carey Brewster
Succeeded by	John Duncan MacLean
MLA for Victoria City
In office June 9, 1900 – October 3, 1903
Preceded by	William Thomas Forster
Succeeded by	district abolished
MLA for Delta
In office October 3, 1903 – November 25, 1909
Preceded by	first member
Succeeded by	Francis James Anderson MacKenzie
MLA for Dewdney
In office September 14, 1916 – December 1, 1920
Preceded by	William J. Manson
Succeeded by	John Alexander Catherwood
MLA for Victoria City
In office December 1, 1920 – June 20, 1924 Serving with Joseph Clearihue, John Hart, Joshua Hinchcliffe
Preceded by	George Bell Harlan Carey Brewster Henry Charles Hall John Hart
Succeeded by	Reginald Hayward
MLA for Nelson
In office August 23, 1924 – August 17, 1927
Preceded by	Kenneth Campbell
Succeeded by	James Albert McDonald
Personal details
Born	July 31, 1856 Hartington, England
Died	August 17, 1927 (aged 71) Victoria, British Columbia
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Other political affiliations	Government
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Woodward ​ (m. 1886)​
Children	5 sons and 3 daughters
Residence	Victoria, British Columbia
Occupation	farmer
Profession	politician
Cabinet	Minister of Agriculture and Railways (1916-1918)

Oliver was involved in local politics when he won a seat in the provincial legislature in the 1900 election, and became leader of the opposition. He lost his seat in the 1909 election. He returned to the legislature in the 1916 election as a Liberal member, and became Minister of Agriculture and Railways in the cabinet of Harlan Carey Brewster. Oliver succeeded Brewster to become the 19th Premier when Brewster died in 1918. Oliver's government developed the produce industry in the Okanagan Valley, and tried to persuade the federal government to lower the freight rate for rail transport. Oliver also in 1923 hosted the visit of Warren Harding to Vancouver, the first ever visit of a sitting United States President to Canada.

Oliver remained premier until his death in 1927.

John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia, John Oliver Park in Delta, BC, Mount John Oliver in the Premier Range of the Cariboo Mountains, the town of Oliver, British Columbia, and Oliver Street in Williams Lake, British Columbia, are all named after him.

Electoral history

1900 British Columbia general election: Westminster-Delta
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Government	John Oliver	324	45.51
	Conservative	John Walter Berry	215	30.20
	Progressive	Thomas William Forster	173	24.30
Total valid votes			712	100.00

10th British Columbia election, 1903

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±	Expenditures
	Conservative	William Henry Ladner	309	40.87%		unknown
	Liberal	John Oliver	447	59.13%		unknown
Total valid votes			756	100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			%

11th British Columbia election, 1907

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±	Expenditures
	Conservative	Francis James Anderson MacKenzie	261	37.77%		unknown
	Liberal	John Oliver	430	62.23%		unknown
Total valid votes			691	100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			%

12th British Columbia election, 1909

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±	Expenditures
	Conservative	Francis James Anderson MacKenzie	765	58.13%		unknown
	Liberal	John Oliver	551	41.87%		unknown
Total valid votes			1,316	100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			%
^1 Results of recount as reported in New Westminster Columbian 29 November 1909, p. 1

13th British Columbia election, 1912

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±	Expenditures
	Conservative	Francis James Anderson MacKenzie	748	70.83%		unknown
	Liberal	John Oliver	308	29.17%		unknown
Total valid votes			1,056	100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			%

1920 British Columbia general election: Delta
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	John Oliver	1,334	37.50
	Soldier–Farmer	Richmond Archie Payne	1,107	31.12
	Conservative	Francis James Anderson MacKenzie	964	21.55
Total valid votes			3,557	100.00

References

• "John Oliver". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.