Alexander Wallace Matheson

Matheson, Alexander Wallace

Alexander Wallace Matheson, lawyer, politician, premier of PEI 1953-59 (b at Bellevue, PEI 11 June 1903; d at Charlottetown 3 Mar 1976). First elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislature in 1940, Matheson became minister of health and welfare under Premier J. Walter Jones and premier in 1953 when Jones retired to the Senate. Matheson vigorously promoted rural electrification to protect and strengthen farm life. Although the provision of modern services did improve life, the erosion of rural communities continued. Matheson resigned as party leader in 1961 following the defeat of the Liberals in the 1959 provincial election, but was re-elected by a large majority. He served as leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in 1965. In 1967 he was elevated to the bench.