Robert Henry Pooley (September 19, 1878 – June 23, 1954) was a Canadian lawyer and political figure in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. He represented

Esquimalt The Township of Esquimalt () is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Jua ...

from 1912 to 1937 as a

Conservative 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 civiliza ...

. Pooley was interim leader of the party from August 1924 to November 1926.

Biography

Pooley was born in

, the son of

Charles Edward Pooley Charles Edward Pooley, KC (February 8, 1845 – March 28, 1912) was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Esquimalt in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1882 to 1906 as a Conservative. He ...

, and was educated at

Bradfield College Bradfield College is a coeducational public school (independent boarding and day school) for pupils aged 13–18, in the village of Bradfield, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It is noted for its open-air Greek theatre and its trien ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Pooley practised law in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

from 1896. In 1904, he married Laura Loewen. Pooley was

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

in the assembly from 1924 to 1928. He served in the provincial cabinet as Attorney-General from August 1928 to November 1933. He also served as Minister of Public Works between July and September 1933. He did not seek an eighth term in the 1937 provincial election. Pooley died in Victoria at the age of 75.

References

1878 births 1954 deaths British Columbia Conservative Party MLAs British Columbia Conservative Party leaders Leaders of the opposition (British Columbia) Attorneys general of British Columbia People from Esquimalt, British Columbia 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia People educated at Bradfield College {{Conservative-BritishColumbia-MLA-stub