Robert Brett
Encyclopedia
Robert George Brett was a politician and physician in the North-West Territories and later Alberta
, Canada
.
Brett was well educated, attending the University of Toronto
and attaining his medical degree. He attended various schools in the United States
for his post graduate work. In 1874 he located in the small village of Arkona, Ontario
, where he even served a term as village reeve.
He was married in 1873 to Louise T. Hungerford and had four children, all four of whom predeceased their parents (their eldest daughter, Genevieve, died as a four-month-old infant in October 1881 and is buried at Arkona). Although it has been stated that Brett moved to Manitoba
in 1880 he and his family were listed in the 1881 census in Arkona. In any case in the early 1880s he helped found the Manitoba Medical College and sat as a board member on the University of Manitoba
.
In 1883 he moved to Banff
, District of Alberta
. He worked as a physician at the Banff Sanitarium, which he founded.
In 1888 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories. He became a de facto leader of the government as Chairman of the Lieutenant-Governor's Advisory Council. Robert Brett had a rivalry with longtime member Frederick Haultain
.
In 1898 Robert Brett became the first Leader of the Official Opposition during a time in which the territorial legislature made a transition to party politics. In the 1902 election he unexpectedly dropped out of the race, a move that hurt the North-West Territories Liberal Party.
When Alberta became a province in 1905 he ran in Banff
for the Conservative Party but was defeated.
He served as a senior surgeon in Banff at Brett Hospital. In 1909 he became President of the Alberta Conservative Party. During his time in the early 20th century he served on a number of boards in Alberta. He was appointed the second Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
in 1915 and served in the post for one decade.
He died in Calgary, Alberta; he was buried in Banff. Mount Brett, west of Banff, was named in his honour.
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...
.
Brett was well educated, attending the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and attaining his medical degree. He attended various schools in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for his post graduate work. In 1874 he located in the small village of Arkona, Ontario
Arkona, Ontario
Arkona is a community located in the municipality of Lambton Shores in southwestern Ontario near the Lambton-Middlesex county line, situated beside the Ausable River, on Former Kings Highway 79 , Arkona is roughly half-way between Thedford, and Watford...
, where he even served a term as village reeve.
He was married in 1873 to Louise T. Hungerford and had four children, all four of whom predeceased their parents (their eldest daughter, Genevieve, died as a four-month-old infant in October 1881 and is buried at Arkona). Although it has been stated that Brett moved to Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1880 he and his family were listed in the 1881 census in Arkona. In any case in the early 1880s he helped found the Manitoba Medical College and sat as a board member on the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
.
In 1883 he moved to Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, District of Alberta
District of Alberta
The District of Alberta was one of four districts of the Northwest Territories created in 1882. It was styled the Alberta Provisional District to distinguish it from the District of Keewatin which had a more autonomous relationship from the NWT administration...
. He worked as a physician at the Banff Sanitarium, which he founded.
In 1888 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories. He became a de facto leader of the government as Chairman of the Lieutenant-Governor's Advisory Council. Robert Brett had a rivalry with longtime member Frederick Haultain
Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Sir Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain was a lawyer and a long serving Canadian politician and judge. His career in provincial and territorial legislatures stretched into four decades...
.
In 1898 Robert Brett became the first Leader of the Official Opposition during a time in which the territorial legislature made a transition to party politics. In the 1902 election he unexpectedly dropped out of the race, a move that hurt the North-West Territories Liberal Party.
When Alberta became a province in 1905 he ran in Banff
Banff (provincial electoral district)
Banff was a provincial electoral district, in south west Alberta, Canada.The riding has existed twice, the first incarnation was created in 1905 when Alberta formed as a province...
for the Conservative Party but was defeated.
He served as a senior surgeon in Banff at Brett Hospital. In 1909 he became President of the Alberta Conservative Party. During his time in the early 20th century he served on a number of boards in Alberta. He was appointed the second Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the viceregal representative in Alberta of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the nine other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
in 1915 and served in the post for one decade.
He died in Calgary, Alberta; he was buried in Banff. Mount Brett, west of Banff, was named in his honour.
