Joseph Martin

Joseph Martin

Joseph Martin, lawyer, politician, premier of BC Feb 1900 - Jun 1900 (b at Milton, Canada W 24 Sept 1852; d at Vancouver 2 Mar 1923). Elected as a Liberal to 4 legislatures, he was an agitator more suited to opposition than government. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1883, became attorney general in the GREENWAY government in 1888, and in 1890 sponsored legislation ending the official use of French and public support for separate schools (see MANITOBA SCHOOLS QUESTION). He represented Winnipeg in the House of Commons 1893-96, and then moved to Vancouver to practise law. Elected to the BC legislature in 1898, he served as attorney general until 1900. In February 1900 he was asked to form a government but, unable to muster support, resigned after 3 months. He speculated in real estate and practised law 1903-08 and in 1907 edited and published the Vancouver Guardian. His legal business took him to Britain, where he represented East St Pancras at Westminster 1910-18. He nevertheless contested the Vancouver mayoralty in 1914 and founded the Evening Journal there in 1916.