Born in Hillier, Prince Edward County, Ontario, the son of James C. Davidson, a farmer, and Sarah McCartney Davidson, Davidson was educated at the public school of his district, Picton High School, St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, and the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1893. He started working as a reporter for The Toronto World and soon joined the Toronto Star. He would report from the Ontario legislature for seven years.[1]
The AlbertanEdit
In 1902, Davidson founded The Albertan, a daily newspaper published in the Calgary region that would become the Calgary Sun, it was printed and published by his company The Albertan Pub. Co.[2]
His newspaper was among the many institutions calling for reform of the First past the post system, which eventually resulted in the United Farmers government bringing in Single transferable voting and Alternative Voting in 1924. By this time, he was not in favour of STV though.[3]
Political careerEdit
Davidson was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1917 Alberta general election as a Liberal. He defeated Conservative incumbent Samuel Bacon Hillocks by a comfortable margin to win to represent the North Calgary electoral district. He did not run for re-election.
Davidson ran for election again as an Independent in a Calgary electoral district provincial by-election on January 15, 1923, held after the death of MLA Robert Edwards. He defeated Liberal candidate Clinton J. Ford to win. He did not run for re-election.
After he retired from provincial politics Davidson spent 2 years from 1926 to 1928 researching Louis Riel. As a result, he wrote 2 biographical books on the man - Louis Riel, 1844-1885 : a biography and The life and times of Louis Riel. The second book was published as a condensed form of the first. Both books were published through his company The Albertan Pub. Co.[2]
ReferencesEdit
^Charlesworth, Hector Willoughby, ed. (1919). A Cyclopædia of Canadian biography. Toronto: Hunter-Rose Company. pp. 225–226. OCLC 1042901332. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
^ ab"Author: Davidson, William McCartney". University of Saskatchewan Library. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
Bradley, Jim (Winter 2014). "Yesterday, today and tomorrow' the observations of W.M. Davidson". Alberta History. 62 (1): 2–8. ISSN 0316-1552. Gale A357591523.
william, mccartney, davidson, november, 1872, march, 1942, canadian, journalist, politician, author, davidson, pictured, 1905member, legislative, assembly, albertain, office, june, 1917, july, 1921constituencynorth, calgaryin, office, january, 1923, october, 1. William McCartney Davidson November 12 1872 March 23 1942 was a Canadian journalist politician and author William McCartney DavidsonDavidson pictured in 1905Member of the Legislative Assembly of AlbertaIn office June 7 1917 July 17 1921ConstituencyNorth CalgaryIn office January 15 1923 October 17 1925ConstituencyCalgaryPersonal detailsBorn 1872 11 12 12 November 1872Hillier Prince Edward County OntarioDied23 March 1942 1942 03 23 aged 69 Political partyAlberta LiberalOccupationReporter author politician Contents 1 Early life 2 The Albertan 3 Political career 4 Published works 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Hillier Prince Edward County Ontario the son of James C Davidson a farmer and Sarah McCartney Davidson Davidson was educated at the public school of his district Picton High School St Catharines Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1893 He started working as a reporter for The Toronto World and soon joined the Toronto Star He would report from the Ontario legislature for seven years 1 The Albertan EditIn 1902 Davidson founded The Albertan a daily newspaper published in the Calgary region that would become the Calgary Sun it was printed and published by his company The Albertan Pub Co 2 His newspaper was among the many institutions calling for reform of the First past the post system which eventually resulted in the United Farmers government bringing in Single transferable voting and Alternative Voting in 1924 By this time he was not in favour of STV though 3 Political career EditDavidson was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1917 Alberta general election as a Liberal He defeated Conservative incumbent Samuel Bacon Hillocks by a comfortable margin to win to represent the North Calgary electoral district He did not run for re election Davidson ran for election again as an Independent in a Calgary electoral district provincial by election on January 15 1923 held after the death of MLA Robert Edwards He defeated Liberal candidate Clinton J Ford to win He did not run for re election He ran in the 1925 Canadian federal election in Calgary East He was badly defeated finishing a distant last behind Conservative Fred Davis the winner and Labor candidate William Irvine Published works EditAfter he retired from provincial politics Davidson spent 2 years from 1926 to 1928 researching Louis Riel As a result he wrote 2 biographical books on the man Louis Riel 1844 1885 a biography and The life and times of Louis Riel The second book was published as a condensed form of the first Both books were published through his company The Albertan Pub Co 2 References Edit Charlesworth Hector Willoughby ed 1919 A Cyclopaedia of Canadian biography Toronto Hunter Rose Company pp 225 226 OCLC 1042901332 Retrieved August 17 2020 a b Author Davidson William McCartney University of Saskatchewan Library Retrieved 2007 08 13 An Uneventful Session Calgary Albertan April 15 1924 Works citedBradley Jim Winter 2014 Yesterday today and tomorrow the observations of W M Davidson Alberta History 62 1 2 8 ISSN 0316 1552 Gale A357591523 External links EditWilliam McCartney Davidson Legislative Assembly of Alberta Member Profile Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members ListingLegislative Assembly of AlbertaPreceded bySamuel Bacon Hillocks MLA North Calgary1917 1921 Succeeded byDistrict AbolishedPreceded byRobert Edwards MLA Calgary1923 1926 Succeeded byAlexander McGillivrayJohn IrwinGeorge WebsterRobert Parkyn nbsp This article about an Alberta politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William McCartney Davidson amp oldid 1168290135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
