Thomas Dufferin Pattullo
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Thomas Dufferin ("Duff") Pattullo (January 19, 1873 - March 30, 1956) was premier of British Columbia, Canada from 1933 to 1941. The Pattullo Bridge is named in his honour.
Pattullo's early career was as a journalist with two newspapers in Ontario: the Woodstock Sentinel in the 1890s, and as editor of the Galt Reformer in 1896. He got a job as secretary to James Morrow Walsh, the Commissioner of the Yukon, where he stayed until 1902. In 1908, he moved to Prince Rupert, British Columbia and soom became mayor. He was elected to the provincial legislature in the 1916 election, and was appointed minister of lands in the Liberal government. Following the defeat of the Liberals in the 1928 election, Pattullo became Liberal Party leader, and leader of the opposition. In the 1933 election, Pattullo led the party back into government.
The Pattullo government, elected in the midst of the Great Depression, attempted to extend government services and relief to the unemployed. His government was unable to secure a majority in the 1941 election due, in part, to the rise of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. He was unwilling to form a coalition government with the Conservatives, so his Liberal Party removed him as leader and formed such a coalition despite his objections. In the 1945 election, Pattullo lost his seat in the legislature and retired from politics.
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Preceded by: Simon Fraser Tolmie 1928-1933 |
Premier of British Columbia 1933-1941 |
Succeeded by: John Hart 1941-1947 |