Donald Farquharson

FARQUHARSON, DONALD. teacher, merchant, and newspaper director; b. 27 July 1834 at Mermaid, son of John Farquharson and Frances Stewart; m. first 15 March 1860 Dopsin May Edwards Smith, and they had four children, Laura, Seymour, Alfred, and May (died in 1901); m. secondly 20 October 1870 Sarah Moore, and they had three children, Fanny, Lauretta, and Charles; Presbyterian; d. 26 June 1903 in Charlottetown. Farquharson, a Liberal, was first elected to the House of Assembly in the general election of 1876 for 2nd Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1879, 1883, 1886, and 1890. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general elections of 1893, 1897, and 1900. He served as a Minister without Portfolio on Executive Council from 1878 to 1879, and from 1891 to 1898. In 1898 he became Premier after Alexander B. Warburton* was appointed as a judge with the court of Kings County. Farquharson served in the Legislature until 1901, when he resigned from the Assembly and the premiership to successfully run for the vacated federal seat of West Queen's in a by-election held 15 January 1902. He died while a Member of the House of Commons, never fulfilling his aim to be in the federal Cabinet. First elected as a member of the Free School coalition in 1876, Farquharson opposed government funding of denominational schools, but is best-known as the "Prohibition Premier." His attempt to strengthen provincial liquor licensing in 1899 was criticized by temperance supporters and opponents. Prohibitionists thought Farquharson had sold out to the supporters of liquor licensing by allowing licenses, albeit severely restrictive ones, to be issued at all, while incensed licensing advocates complained the legislation was too restrictive. Following the debate that divided his party, he made the legislation less restrictive. Disturbed by the controversy, Farquharson a year later passed the Prohibition Act of 1900, the first of its kind in post-Confederation Canada. The Prohibition Act banned the sale of intoxicating beverages except for industrial, sacramental, or medicinal use. During the 1899 and 1900 legislative sessions, Farquharson orchestrated a strategy to preserve the Liberal party's slim majority in the Assembly. In 1899 Joseph Wise"' broke ranks with the Liberals and voted with the Conservatives. Farquharson eventually persuaded Wise to resign his seat. Later Wise refuted his resignation and attempted to assume his former seat in the Assembly. Amidst pandemonium brought on by Wise's actions, his vote with the Conservatives, which would have defeated the Government, was not recognized by Speaker James Cummiskey*. With order restored on the next day, Farquharson held on to power when Henry Pineau, a sitting Conservative who had been conspicuously absent from legislative proceedings for some months, switched to the Government side. Seven months later, in December 1900, Farquharson led the Liberals to a 21-9 majority. In April 1901, in an effort to raise revenues for the province, Farquharson claimed that the federal government owed Prince Edward Island compensation for non-fulfillment of the terms of union regarding transportation. According to Farquharson, the resulting loss of revenue demoralized business, caused many young men to leave home, and devalued farms. The federal government countered that they had met the terms since 1888, but they did agree to increase the Island's subsidy by $30,000 annually, a full and final settlement from the federal government's perspective. Farquharson attended the local school near Mermaid and Central Academy in Charlottetown. He was a teacher and later a successful businessman. In 1860 he opened a store on the West River at McF.wen's Wharf near New Dominion. He and his partner Theophilus Stewart operated the business, and by 1887 their interests included wholesale, milling, and shipping operations. In partnership with his son, Farquharson moved to Charlottetown and operated a general mercantile company. Other business interests included a starch factory at Long Creek and a lobster canning factory at Canoe Cove. He was a founding member, part owner, director, and President of the Patriot Publishing Company, as well as a director of the Merchant's Bank. For 15 years, Farquharson was a member of the Charlottetown School Board. Additionally, he was a Captain on the General Staff of Militia and Volunteers in 1860, and was responsible for Company H Rifles at Long Creek. Donald Farquharson died 26 June 1903. Dopsin Farquharson, of Pownal, daughter of Richard Edwards and Magdelen Jenkins, was born 23 July 1834 and died 16 April 1868. Sarah Farquharson, daughter of George Moore of Charlottetown and Elizabeth Chappell, was born ca. 17 October 1843 and died 15 February 1911.