William John Bowser (Rexton, New Brunswick December 3, 1867-October 25, 1933 Vancouver) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He moved to Vancouver to practice law in 1891, and was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1903 election as a Conservative. Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope restored) Official languages English, French Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson Premier Bernard Lord (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 10 10 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 11th 72 908 km² 71 450 km² 1 458 km... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Vancouver (pronounced ) is a Canadian city in the province of British Columbia. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages none stated in law; English is de facto Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735... Vancouver (pronounced ) is a Canadian city in the province of British Columbia. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... The British Columbia general election of 1903 was the tenth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. ... The British Columbia Conservative Party (also known as the Tories) is a conservative political party in British Columbia, Canada. ...

Bowser served as Attorney-General in the cabinet of Sir Richard McBride from 1907 until 1915, when he succeeded McBride as Premier. In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General or Attorney-General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Sir Richard McBride (December 15, 1870-August 6, 1917) was a British Columbian politician and founder of the British Columbia Conservative Party. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A premier is an executive official of government. ...

The Conservative party was deeply divided and unpopular and the change in leadership did not improve matters. Accusations of corruption and "machine politics" were rife. The Conservatives also neglected to address popular demands for women's suffrage and prohibition. Bowser's government was defeated in the 1916 election, losing to Liberal leader Harlan Carey Brewster, who two years later was succeeded by the more memorable John Oliver. Bowser continued as leader of the opposition until he lost his seat in the 1924 election. Suffrage parade, New York City, 1912 The movement for womens suffrage, led by suffragists (peaceful protestors) and suffragettes (violent protestors), was a social, economic and political reform movement aimed at extending the suffrage (the right to vote) to women, advocating equal suffrage (abolition of graded votes) rather than universal... Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol. ... The British Columbia general election of 1916 was the fourteenth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ... The British Columbia general election of 1924 was the sixteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. ...

He returned to politics in the 1933 election to lead a non-partisan group of candidates, but died during the election campaign. The British Columbia general election of 1933 was the eighteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. ... Non-partisan democracy (also no-party democracy) is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic elections (by secret ballot) take place without reference to political parties or even the speeches, campaigns, nominations, or other apparatus commonly associated with democracy. ...

A river, a lake and locality in the North Coast area, between the Nass Valley and Stewart, B.C., are named for Bowser.

• Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia and The Dictionary of Canadian Biography