Lewis O'Brien (politician)

Lewis James O'Brien (November 28, 1868 – June 14, 1955) was a provincial level politician and medical doctor from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1944.

Lewis O'Brien
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
March 21, 1940 – August 7, 1944
Preceded byWilliam Sharpe
Succeeded byIra McLaughlin
ConstituencyGrande Prairie
Personal details
Born(1868-11-28)November 28, 1868
Laskay, Ontario
DiedJune 14, 1955(1955-06-14) (aged 86)
Edmonton, Alberta
Political partyUnity Movement
SpouseAlice O'Brien
Alma materUniversity of Toronto (B.A.)
University of Würzburg (M.D.)
OccupationPhysician, surgeon
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceCanadian Army Medical Corps
Years of service1915–1918
RankCaptain
Battles/warsWorld War I

Early life

Lewis James O'Brien was born November 28, 1868 in Laskay, Ontario.[1] He was educated in Toronto, served as a teacher, then returned to the University of Toronto where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1897. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine after enrolling at the University of Würzburg in Germany three years later.[1] O'Brien remained in Germany and Austria for two years before moving back to Ontario to set up his medical practice and marry Alice John.[1] During the First World War he served overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps at the 5th Canadian Hospital in Liverpool. O'Brien moved to the Peace Region after the war in 1918.[1]

Political career

O'Brien ran as an Independent candidate under the Unity Movement in the 1940 Alberta general election. He defeated Social Credit incumbent MLA William Sharpe on the second count to win the Grande Prairie electoral district.[2] O'Brien served a single term in the Assembly before announcing that he wanted to step off to the side lines and retire at a nomination convention held in the Capital Theater at Grande Prairie, Alberta on February 3, 1944.[3]

Honours

O'Brien Provincial Park located 15 km (9.3 mi) south from Grande Prairie, on Highway 666 is named in O'Brien's honour.[1]

References
  1. "Fonds 0153 - Lewis B. O'Brien, M.D., fonds". Alberta on Record. Archives Society of Alberta. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  2. "Grande Prairie 1940 election results". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  3. "D.W. Patterson Chosen Candidate At Convention Independents Held G.P.". XXXII, No. 48. Herald-Tribune. February 10, 1944. p. 1.


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