Daniel Edward Riley (November 28, 1860 – April 27, 1948) was a Canadian politician, insurance agent, rancher and real estate agent from

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

, Canada.

Early life

Daniel Edward Riley was born on November 28, 1860, in Baltic, Prince Edward Island, to Neil Riley and Grace McEacheran. He was educated at Fanning Grammar School in Malpecque and

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlott ...

Normal School. He married Edith Kate Thompson on April 2, 1890, and have five sons together. In 1882 he moved west, first to

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

to work in the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway () , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...

shops, and later settling in

High River High River is a town within the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately south of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23. High River had a population of 14,324 in 2021. History The community takes ...

, Alberta. He became a ranch hand and manager for William Roper Hull and volunteered as a dispatch rider during the

North-West Rebellion The North-West Rebellion (), was an armed rebellion of Métis under Louis Riel and an associated uprising of Cree and Assiniboine mostly in the District of Saskatchewan, against the Government of Canada, Canadian government. Important events i ...

Political life

Riley served as the first Mayor of High River when the village became a town in 1906. He also served as the founding President of the

United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) is an association of Alberta farmers that has served different roles in its 100-year history – as a lobby group, a successful political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. As a political party, it forme ...

High River Local in 1909. Riley first contested the

1917 Alberta general election The 1917 Alberta general election was held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The Liberals won a fourth term in office, defeating the Conservative Party of Edward Michener. Because of World War I, eleven Me ...

in the

electoral district as a member of the

Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party () is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1905, it is the oldest active political party in Alberta and was the dominant political party until the 1921 election, with the first three provincial ...

. He was defeated by incumbent Conservative candidate

George Douglas Stanley George Douglas Stanley (March 19, 1876 – February 22, 1954) was a Canadian politician and physician. Born in Exeter, Ontario, he began as a pioneer medical doctor in Alberta in 1901. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 t ...

by 38 votes. Riley helped to found the Western Stock Growers’ Association and served various positions in the organization from 1921 to 1937. Riley was appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada () is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, they compose the Bicameralism, bicameral le ...

on the advice of

Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian statesman and politician who was the tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Liberal ...

on June 26, 1926, and served until his death at Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, on April 27, 1948.

Legacy

He was inducted into the

Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame () honors and celebrates Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry and publicizes the importance of their achievements throughout Canada. Inaugurated in 1960 and ...

posthumously in 1965. The Senator Riley Junior High School in High River is named in his honour.

References

External links

*
Daniel Edward Riley biography Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Daniel 1860 births 1948 deaths Canadian senators from Alberta Liberal Party of Canada senators Alberta Liberal Party candidates in Alberta provincial elections 20th-century mayors of places in Alberta Canadian ranchers 20th-century members of the Senate of Canada