William Ashbury Buchanan

William Ashbury Buchanan, (born: July 2, 1876 South Monaghan, Ontario died: July 12, 1954) was a journalist, publisher and politician based in Alberta.

Following a career as a journalist in Ontario, Buchanan moved to Alberta and purchased the Lethbridge Weekly Herald in 1905. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to turn the paper into a daily in 1907 but it soon resumed a weekly publishing schedule.

Buchanan entered provincial politics when he contested the riding of Lethbridge City on behalf of the Alberta Liberal Party in the 1909 provincial election and won a seat in the Alberta Legislature. He switched to federal politics in the 1911 federal election and was elected for the seat of Medicine Hat as a federal Liberal.

As a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917, Buchanan crossed the floor to support the government of Sir Robert Laird Borden. He was re-elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Unionist for the new riding of Lethbridge in the 1917 general election. He did not run in the 1921 election.

Buchanan was named to the Senate of Canada at the age of 49 in 1925 and served until his death in 1954 for the Liberal Party of Canada. He continued as owner of the Lethbridge Herald until his death.

A malignant growth was discovered in Buchanan's body sometime in August 1953 and he died on July 12, 1954, ten days after celebrating his 78th birthday.

Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Preceded by
New District
MLA Lethbridge City
1909-1911
Succeeded by
John Smith Stewart
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Charles Alexander Magrath
Member of Parliament Medicine Hat
1911-1917
Succeeded by
Arthur Lewis Sifton
Preceded by
New District
Member of Parliament Lethbridge
1917–1921
Succeeded by
Lincoln Henry Jelliff
Preceded by
Jean Côté
Senator Alberta
1925-1954
Succeeded by
Donald Cameron


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