John Duncan MacLean (December 8, 1873 – March 28, 1948) was a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th

premier of British Columbia The premier of British Columbia is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s, the title ''prime minister of British Columbia'' was often used. The word ''premier'' is derived ...

, Canada. MacLean was a practicing physician in Greenwood when he was elected to the provincial

legislature A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...

for the Liberal in the 1916 election. He served as minister of education and provincial secretary in the cabinets of Harlan Carey Brewster and

John Oliver John William Oliver (born 23 April 1977) is a British and American comedian who hosts ''Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'' on HBO. He started his career as a stand-up comedian in the United Kingdom and came to wider attention for his work ...

before becoming minister of finance in 1924. In the election that year, he was elected in the riding of Yale riding. He also served as Minister of Industries between 1924 and 1928. MacLean became premier following Oliver's death in 1927, at a time when the Liberal government was in decline. He was unable to reverse his party's decline and was defeated in the 1928 election by the

Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

. Later that year, he contested a

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

for a seat in the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of Ca ...

as a Liberal candidate but was defeated by fewer than one hundred votes. He spent the rest of his life as chairman of the Canadian Farm Loan Board.

Election results (partial)

References

The Canadian Encyclopedia: John Duncan MacLean
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maclean, John Duncan 1873 births 1948 deaths Premiers of British Columbia Leaders of BC United BC United MLAs Canadian people of Scottish descent Politicians from Queens County, Prince Edward Island Burials at Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa) 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia