13 Facts About Alexander Bannerman

Sir Alexander Bannerman was a Scottish merchant, vintner, politician and British colonial governor.

Alexander Bannerman was the eldest son of merchant Thomas Bannerman and his wife, Jean Bannerman, who married in 1779.

Alexander Bannerman served as the city's provost and in 1837, was elected dean of Marischal College, Aberdeen.

Alexander Bannerman joined the town council of Aberdeen in 1811.

Alexander Bannerman was a reformer, challenging the long-standing oligarchy led by James and Gavin Hadden, and was instrumental in establishing an elected trust to manage the new Aberdeen Harbour.

Together with his wife, Margaret Gordon the granddaughter of former Governor Walter Patterson, Alexander Bannerman returned to the colony of her birth, when he took up the appointment in 1851 as governor of Prince Edward Island.

Alexander Bannerman instituted responsible government on the island but was removed in 1854 due to political unrest in which he favoured the Reformers.

Alexander Bannerman clashed with John Kent, the premier of Newfoundland, who he felt was corrupt.

Alexander Bannerman accused Kent's government, as did Bishop Mullock, of using relief aid as patronage and accused Kent of being unreasonable in negotiations with France over the French Shore.

In 1861, after Kent had accused Alexander Bannerman of conspiring with the courts and opposition Conservative Party of Newfoundland against a proposal to reduce the salaries of judges, Alexander Bannerman dismissed the Kent government and appointed the leader of the opposition, Hugh Hoyles as the new Premier.

Alexander Bannerman resigned as governor in 1864 and returned to England.

In 1825, Alexander Bannerman married Margaret Gordon, a daughter of Guthrie Gordon, Esq.

Lady Alexander Bannerman, as she was known, was born in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, and was a granddaughter of Walter Patterson who had been the Island's first governor.