About Alexander Rutherford:
Alexander Rutherford was the first premier of Alberta. Alexander Rutherford was responsible for the decision to make Edmonton the capital city of Alberta, and to establish the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The government of Alexander Rutherford promoted public education, started a public telephone system, and expanded roads and railways in Alberta. It was a scandal over the government guarantee of railway bonds that led to the resignation of Alexander Rutherford as the premier of Alberta.
Premier of Alberta:
1905-10
Birth:
February 2, 1857, on a farm near Osgoode, Ontario.
Death:
June 11, 1941 in Edmonton, Alberta
Education:
- BA - McGill University, Montreal
- BCL - McGill Unirversity, Montreal
Professional Background of Alexander Rutherford:
- A lawyer, first in Ontario and then later in Alberta after he moved his family out West in 1895
- Chancellor of the University of Alberta from 1927 to 1941
Political Affiliation:
Liberal
Riding (Electoral District):
Strathcona
Political Career of Alexander Rutherford:
- Alexander Rutherford was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for the riding of Strathcona in 1902.
- He served as Deputy Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly from 1903 to 1905.
- Alexander Rutherford was elected as the first president of the Liberal Party of Alberta in 1905.
- Alexander Rutherford was appointed Premier of Alberta by Lieutenant-Governor George H.V. Bulyea on September 2, 1905, the day after the Province of Alberta was established.
- The Liberal government of Alexander Rutherford won a large majority in the general election in November 1905.
- As well as being Premier of Alberta, Alexander Rutherford served as Provincial Treasurer and Minister of Education.
- In 1910, Alexander Rutherford was forced to resign over allegations about the government's agreement to guarantee bonds of the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway.
- Alexander Rutherford stayed on as a member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly and was cleared of accusations of personal interest in the railway bonds matter.
- In 1913 Alexander Rutherford ran as the Liberal candidate in the South Edmonton electoral district, but was defeated. He returned to his law practice in Edmonton.
- His political loyalties turned and in the Alberta provincial election of 1921, Alexander Rutherford campaigned for the Conservative Party.
