15 Facts About Robert Sommers

Robert Edward Sommers was a Canadian elementary school principal and a politician.

Robert Sommers served as Minister of Lands and Forests and as Minister of Mines until his resignation February 27,1956.

Robert Sommers was tried and in 1958 was convicted of bribery and conspiracy making him the first cabinet minister in the British Commonwealth to serve a term of imprisonment for accepting bribes in connection with his office.

Robert Sommers was a trumpet player, a local band leader, a part-time insurance broker, a Kiwanis club president and a volunteer firefighter.

Robert Sommers was married twice: first to Marion Henry in 1930 and then to Nona Samson in 1940.

Robert Sommers was first elected as an MLA under the banner of the British Columbia Social Credit League as the member for Rossland-Trail in 1952.

Robert Sommers resigned his seat automatically upon his conviction on November 7,1958, for bribery and conspiracy.

Bennett and Robert Sommers met at the Empress Hotel in January 1955.

The Bennett government stonewalled in the legislature on the basis that the matter was before the courts until Robert Sommers was dropped from cabinet in 1956.

Robert Sommers was sentenced to 5 years in prison but was released after 28 months.

Robert Sommers established a piano business on Vancouver Island after his release in 1961.

Robert Sommers was convicted on five of seven charges of receiving bribes.

Robert Sommers was found to have received $607 worth of rugs, $3,000 in bonds, $1,000 in cash and $2,500 sent by telegraph making him the first person in the Commonwealth found guilty of conspiring to accept bribes while serving as a Minister.

Robert Sommers took up residence on Vancouver Island after his release and established a business in that field.

Robert Sommers died at the age of 89 at a hospital in Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 28,2000.