Arthur Peters (Canadian politician)

Arthur Peters (August 29, 1854 – January 29, 1908) was the ninth premier of Prince Edward Island.

Arthur Peters
9th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
December 29, 1901 – January 29, 1908
MonarchEdward VII
Lieutenant GovernorPeter Adolphus McIntyre
Donald Alexander MacKinnon
Preceded byDonald Farquharson
Succeeded byFrancis Haszard
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office
December 29, 1901 – January 29, 1908
Preceded byDonald Farquharson
Succeeded byFrancis Haszard
MLA (Assemblyman) for 2nd Kings
In office
December 13, 1893 – January 29, 1908
Preceded byJohn P. Sullivan
J.C. Underhay
Succeeded byRobert Cox
Personal details
Born(1854-08-29)August 29, 1854
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
DiedJanuary 29, 1908(1908-01-29) (aged 53)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Mary Cunard
(m. 1884)
RelationsFrederick Peters (brother)
Children4
Alma materPrince of Wales College
King's College
Occupationlawyer
ProfessionPolitician
CabinetAttorney General (1900–1901)

Arthur Peters and his brother Frederick Peters (also destined to enter political office) were born in Charlottetown.

Arthur Peters was first elected to the province's legislative assembly in 1893 as a Liberal. He became Attorney-General in 1900 and was asked by the lieutenant governor to become premier of the province on December 29, 1901, after his predecessor had resigned to enter federal politics.

Peters attempted to renegotiate the rules governing the island's representation in the House of Commons of Canada as the island was losing parliamentary seats as a result of successive censuses. Peters argued the province's case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London (though the matter was not resolved during his lifetime) and he also negotiated an increased federal subsidy to the province. Peters died in office on January 29, 1908, at the age of 53.

edit