Alexander Wallace Matheson

MATHESON, ALEXANDER WALLACE, teacher, lawyer, and judge; b. 11 June 1903 in Bellevue, son of Archibald A. Matheson and Margaret MacPherson; m. 25 August 1937 Helen B. Farquharson, and they had five children, Frances Janet, Ellen Margaret (predeceased her father), James Alexander, Thomas Allan, and Andrew; United; d. 3 March 1976 in Charlottetown. Matheson, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election held 7 November 1940 for 2nd Queens. He was defeated in the general election of 1943, and from 1946 to 1947 served as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. Matheson was elected in the general election of 1947 for 4th Kings. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1951, 1955, 1959, and 1962. He was sworn in as Minister of Health and Welfare on 12 March 1948, and served in that Ministry until 1953. Upon the appointment of Premier J. Walter Jones* to the Senate in 1953, Matheson was elected by the Liberal caucus as its new leader. He won the vote on the second ballot, defeating Walter Darby*, Douglas MacKinnon*, William Hughes*, and E. P. Cullen*. Matheson was sworn in as the premier of Prince Edward Island on 25 May 1953. His party was re-elected in the 1955 general election. From 1955 to 1959, Matheson held the positions of Premier, Advocate General, Attorney-General, and President of Executive Council. He was also Minister of Welfare and Labour in 1956 and 1958. He and the Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives, led by Walter R. Shaw*, in the general election of 1959. After having spent the last 24 years governing, the Liberals found themselves out of office. Ex-premier Matheson was said to have commented that at least now there would be a decent opposition. He remained as Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition following the 1959 general election. In September 1961, Matheson won an overwhelming vote of confidence from a provincial Liberal convention and continued to serve as Leader of the Opposition until 1966. He turned down an offer of a federal Cabinet portfolio, and a request to offer as a candidate in the1961 federal election, in order to remain Leader of the Opposition. Matheson announced his retirement from politics on 9 March 1965. Following the election call in 1966, he returned to private life and to his private law practice. Matheson was perhaps best remembered for the rural electrification program and an extensive rural paving program. He also demonstrated able leadership on behalf of the whole Maritime region in dealings with the federal government. "Big Alec," as he was known, believed in straight talk and was always upfront about his views and intentions. Matheson received his early education at the Bellevue School, later attending Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, after which he taught school for four years, first in Grandview and then in Valleyfield. Matheson then studied law in the firm of MacKinnon and McNeill in Charlottetown. He was admitted to the Bar in June 1933. Matheson practised law in Charlottetown, until he entered politics in 1940. During the Second World War, he held the rank of a Major in the Artillery Reserve in Charlottetown. After his political career ended, Matheson again entered private law practice until March 1967, when he was sworn in as a County Court Judge for Queens County. He served in this position until March 1974, when he resigned for health reasons. Matheson was involved in many community organizations. He was a member of the Charlottetown Club, the United Services Officers Club, and the Garrison Officer's Mess. He was a member of the Trinity United Church in Charlottetown and of the Caledonia Club, as well as the Charlottetown Curling Club and the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club. Alexander Matheson died 3 March 1976 at the Livingstone-MacArthur Nursing Home in Charlottetown. Helen Matheson was the daughter of Ernest W. Farquharson.