Peter Dawson (politician)
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The Honourable Reverend Peter Dawson |
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|---|---|
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| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
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In office February 25, 1937 – March 24, 1963 |
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| Preceded by | Nathan Eldon Tanner |
| Succeeded by | Arthur J. Dixon |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
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In office August 22, 1935 – March 24, 1963 |
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| Preceded by | Oran McPherson |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Speaker |
| Constituency | Little Bow |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 11, 1892 Slateford, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Died | March 24, 1963 (aged 70) Edmonton, Alberta |
| Political party | Social Credit |
| Spouse(s) | Hildegarde "Hilde" Hallonquist (1923–1963; his death) |
| Children | Earland McMaurray David Gilmour |
| Alma mater |
Robertson College St. Stephen's College |
Peter Dawson (April 11, 1892 – March 24, 1963) was a Canadian minister, politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
Dawson was born in 1892 in Scotland. After attending schools and briefly working as a labourer and an apprentice to a butcher in Maybole, Dawson immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 with his brother, James Dawson. Shortly after arriving, he took up residence in Ontario where he worked in the automobile profession for seven years until moving west to Alberta in 1918.
Following his decision to settle in Calgary, he found employment as a butcher and interest in missionary work. His residence in Calgary, however, didn't last long, as five years later, he moved to the nearby capital city of Edmonton, where he attended Prebysterian schooling. Ordained as a minister of the United Church in 1927, he soon was called in 1928 to Sedgewick, where he remained for two years, before getting called to Champion. Although not intending to have a career in politics, a group of citizens persuaded him to run in the 1935 election, in which he defeated United Farmers Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Oran McPherson by 66% of the vote.
In 1937, Dawson was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. During his 26-year tenure, from 1937 until his death in 1963, he witnessed and presided over many events, such as the first instance of crossing the floor in Alberta and naming a fellow MLA for remarks made at a provincial official. He also witnessed two royal visits to Alberta from two different monarchs, King George IV in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth II 20 years later, in which he presided over the installation of a fountain in the Legislature's rotunda. After dying in office in 1963, Dawson was honoured with a state funeral, attended by many prominent citizens of Alberta.
Dawson was born in Slateford, Ayrshire, Scotland, on April 11, 1892 to John and Jane Dawson (née McMurray). Along with a twin sister who died at the age of five months, Peter Dawson had eight other siblings. John Dawson died in 1900, when Peter was only eight years old. Prior to his death, he had worked as a police constable and blacksmith.
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