Robert Atkinson Davis
| Robert Atkinson Davis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 4th Premier of Manitoba | |
|
In office December 3, 1874 – October 16, 1878 |
|
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Lieutenant Governor |
Alexander Morris Joseph Edouard Cauchon |
| Preceded by | Marc-Amable Girard |
| Succeeded by | John Norquay |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Winnipeg and St. John | |
|
In office April 1, 1874 – December 23, 1874 |
|
| Preceded by | Donald Alexander Smith |
| Succeeded by | District renamed |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Winnipeg | |
|
In office December 23, 1874 – December 18, 1878 |
|
| Preceded by | District renamed |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Scott |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 9, 1841 Dudswell, Lower Canada |
| Died | January 7, 1903 (aged 61) Phoenix, Arizona |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Government |
| Spouse(s) |
Susan Augusta True (m. 1870) Elizabeth McGonagil (m. 1876) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | McGill University |
| Occupation | schoolteacher, businessman |
| Profession | politician |
| Cabinet | Provincial Treasurer (1874–1878) |
Robert Atkinson Davis (March 9, 1841 – January 7, 1903) was a businessman and Manitoba politician who served as the fourth Premier of Manitoba.
Davis was born in Dudswell, in the eastern townships of Lower Canada (now Quebec). As a young man, he worked in the mining fields of the US Rockies. He moved to Red River on 10 May 1870, and reportedly had a friendly meeting with Louis Riel shortly before the end of the Red River Rebellion. This meeting took place after Davis swam across the Red River to where Riel was hiding and called out to the guards in French, and the entire meeting took place in French as Davis was bilingual. Davis purchased a hotel in September 1870. This investment proved very profitable, and he was soon able to open several other stores in Winnipeg.
Davis assumed a significant role in Manitoba politics after the death of his first wife in 1872. He emerged as a spokesman for the province's recent Ontario immigrants, who opposed the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly on transportation and opposed the continued prominence of the Métis in Manitoba politics.
Davis challenged HBC commissioner Donald Alexander Smith for the Presidency of the Provincial Agricultural Association in 1872. He lost this race, but was elected to both the Protestant school board and the new Winnipeg Board of Trade in February 1873. Davis also helped create the Manitoba society called "The Grange" in 1874.
In April 1874, Davis won a by-election to the provincial legislature for the riding of Winnipeg & St. Johns (replacing Smith, who had resigned). He soon emerged as leading figure in the opposition, and on July 2, 1874, supported a non-confidence motion which brought down the government. The next day, Marc-Amable Girard was called to lead a ministry based on principles of "responsible government". Davis became the Provincial Treasurer, and sought to achieve debt elimination and "better terms" from Ottawa.
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