Benjamin Rogers

ROGERS, HONOURABLE BENJAMIN, bookkeeper, merchant, farmer, and officeholder; b. 7 August 1837 in Bedeque, son of Joseph Rogers and Margaret James; m. first 20 February 1862 Susannah Abella Hubbard, and they had six children, Francis G., Frederick C., Charles R., Addie Y., Sibella Maggie, and Reginald Hiber; m. secondly 1898, Annie M. Hunter, and there were no children; Presbyterian; d. 16 May 1923 in Alberton. Rogers, a Liberal, and for a short time an Independent, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1893 for 1st Prince. Running as an Independent, he defeated Liberal A. J. Matheson and Conservative A. F Birch. He was re-elected in the general election of 1900. He was defeated in the general elections of 1863, 1872, 1897, and 1915. Rogers was elected to the Legislative Council in 1878 for l': Prince. He was re-elected in 1882 and 1886. Rogers served on Executive Council in the administrations of Frederick Peters*, Alexander B. Warburton*, and Donald Farquharson*. He was appointed Provincial Secretary of the Treasury and Commissioner of Agriculture in 1900. Rogers was appointed Lieutenant-Governor in 1910 and served until 1915. Following his term as Lieutenant-Governor, he served as leader of the Liberal Party. Rogers served as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 1883 to 1886, and as President of Legislative Council from 1891 to 1893. Rogers was educated in Bedeque. Upon completing his studies, he accepted a clerkship in Summerside, after which he worked as a bookkeeper for James C. Pope until 1858. In that year, he moved to Alberton and opened his own business, taking over the business of his brother David. Upon the opening of his Alberton store, Rogers decided against the sale of alcoholic beverages, even though this would most likely mean a serious loss of trade. Rogers continued this policy throughout his life and career. Benjamin Rogers died 16 May 1923. Susannah Rogers, the daughter of Captain William Hubbard of Tignish, was born ca. 1836 and died 12 July 1897. Annie Rogers was the daughter of James Hunter.