George Harry Webster
Encyclopedia
George Harry "Cowboy Mayor" Webster (September 2, 1868, Leicester, England
– November 10, 1933) was a politician and transportation expert in Alberta
, Canada
. He served as the 22nd Mayor of the city of Calgary
, Alberta
from 1922 to 1926 then served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1926 to his death in 1933.
with his parents in 1873, settling first in Orangeville, Ontario
. He received his early education in Orangeville. In 1880, the family moved on to Winnipeg
and he was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
working on a construction gang building the westward moving line. Mr. Webster arrived in Calgary
with the railway in 1883.
returned to railway construction and was involved in several large projects, including completion of the Grand Trunk
line between Calgary and Tofield
.
George became interested in road transportation, and became involved with the Southern Alberta Good Roads' Association and the Calgary Auto Club. He studied western Canadian roads, and their impact on tourism, construction and maintaince and the effect on agriculture.
in 1919 and served for three years. He became Mayor in 1922
and held that office for four consecutive one year terms. He tendered his resignation as city mayor to run in the 1926 Alberta general election
: it was approved by city council and came into effect on December 31, 1926.
Mr. Webster was popularly known as the "Cowboy Mayor".
constituency in the 1921 Alberta general election
. He ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Liberal
candidate in the Calgary
electoral district in the 1926 Alberta general election
. He won the second place seat.
Webster nominated John McDonald
to stand for the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party at the convention held on March 28, 1930. McDonald won that race over two other candidates.
Webster ran for a second term in the 1930 Alberta general election
. He held his seat in the Calgary district but McDonald did not. The Liberal caucus chose Webster to serve as Leader of the Liberal caucus in the Assembly in January 1931 while McDonald continued to serve as leader of the party. This arrangement continued for over a year before McDonald who was unable to obtain a seat resigned on March 1, 1932. This resignation made Webster the interim leader, a position which he held until William Howson
was acclaimed at a convention on October 21, 1932.
Webster died on November 10, 1933 while still holding office.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– November 10, 1933) was a politician and transportation expert in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as the 22nd Mayor of the city of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
from 1922 to 1926 then served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1926 to his death in 1933.
Early life
George Webster emigrated to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with his parents in 1873, settling first in Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
. He received his early education in Orangeville. In 1880, the family moved on to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and he was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
working on a construction gang building the westward moving line. Mr. Webster arrived in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
with the railway in 1883.
Transportation career
In 1900, after working in Washington State for several years, he returned to Calgary to assume the management of P. Burns and Company, a post Mr. Webster held through to 1906. He subsequentlyreturned to railway construction and was involved in several large projects, including completion of the Grand Trunk
Grand Trunk
Grand Trunk can refer to:*The Grand Trunk Company in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels*The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Canada*The Grand Trunk Railway in North America*The Grand Trunk Road in South Asia...
line between Calgary and Tofield
Tofield, Alberta
Tofield is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Edmonton at the junction of Highway 14, Highway 834, and Highway 626. Beaverhill Lake lies immediately north-east of the community....
.
George became interested in road transportation, and became involved with the Southern Alberta Good Roads' Association and the Calgary Auto Club. He studied western Canadian roads, and their impact on tourism, construction and maintaince and the effect on agriculture.
Municipal career
Mr. Webster was elected to Calgary City CouncilCalgary City Council
The Calgary City Council is the legislative governing body that represents the citizens of Calgary. The Council consists of two offices; Office of the Mayor and Office of the Alderman. Naheed Nenshi was elected to the Office of the Mayor in October 2010 as the city's 36th chief executive...
in 1919 and served for three years. He became Mayor in 1922
and held that office for four consecutive one year terms. He tendered his resignation as city mayor to run in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
: it was approved by city council and came into effect on December 31, 1926.
Mr. Webster was popularly known as the "Cowboy Mayor".
Provincial career and death
Webster was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the CalgaryCalgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
constituency in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. He ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate in the Calgary
Calgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
electoral district in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
. He won the second place seat.
Webster nominated John McDonald
John W. McDonald
John Walter McDonald was a lawyer and provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as Mayor of Fort Macleod, Alberta and also led the Alberta Liberal Party for a brief period from 1930 to 1932.-Early life:...
to stand for the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party at the convention held on March 28, 1930. McDonald won that race over two other candidates.
Webster ran for a second term in the 1930 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He held his seat in the Calgary district but McDonald did not. The Liberal caucus chose Webster to serve as Leader of the Liberal caucus in the Assembly in January 1931 while McDonald continued to serve as leader of the party. This arrangement continued for over a year before McDonald who was unable to obtain a seat resigned on March 1, 1932. This resignation made Webster the interim leader, a position which he held until William Howson
William R. Howson
William Robinson Howson was an politician, judge, debt collector, soldier banker and real estate agent from Alberta, Canada.. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1936 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition...
was acclaimed at a convention on October 21, 1932.
Webster died on November 10, 1933 while still holding office.