George Forbes Dewar

DEWAR M.D., C.M., GEORGE FORBES, teacher and physician; b. 12 December 1865 in New Perth, son of Robert Dewar and Jessie Dewar; m. 19 June 1900 Marion Isabella McLeod, and they had two children, Robert Lloyd and Dorothy; Church of Christ; d. 25 November 1961 in Charlottetown. Dewar, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election held 15 November 1911 for 3rd Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1912. Dewar's 382-vote by-election defeat of H. J. Palmer*, Premier and Attorney-General, combined with Liberal F. J. Nash's* defeat in another by-election, forced a general election. The two losses created a Conservative majority, and a Conservative government was formed. John Alexander Mathieson*, the Conservative leader, immediately called an election. In the general election of 1912, Mathieson defeated the Liberals led by Palmer. The victory was historic as it was the first Conservative victory in a general election since 1886, and the first Conservative government since 1891. Politics was integral to the Dewar family. John Alexander Dewar*, Dewar's brother, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1910 to 1923. One of John's sons, Lloyd George*, later served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and as a Cabinet Minister. Dewar was first educated at New Perth School, later attending Prince of Wales College. He taught school in Cardigan before entering McGill to study medicine. Though he struggled financially, Dewar obtained a medical degree and surgical training in 1893, ranking first, academically, among the graduates from the Maritime provinces. He began practice at Southport, taking over many of the patients from his uncle, Dr. John Knox, who had preceded him in the community'. After some time, Dewar moved to 96 Prince Street in Charlottetown where he carried on an extensive practice for years. He was active in the work of the Prince Edward Island Hospital and was highly regarded by his patients, earning the affectionate title, "Dr. Splendid." Dewar remained in the medical profession for close to 50 years, retiring during the Second World War. In 1944 he began spending the winters in Vancouver, in part for the comfort of his chronically ill son, Lloyd. While Dewar was residing in British Columbia, Lloyd died. Late in life Dewar returned to the Island and spent his final years as a resident of the Prince Edward Island Hospital. George Dewar died 25 November 1961. Marion Dewar, the daughter of Norman McLeod, died in 1942. Dorothy Dewar died in 1904.