William Ashbury Buchanan
William Ashbury Buchanan, (born: July 2, 1876 South Monaghan, Ontario died: July 12, 1954) was a journalist, publisher and politician based in Alberta.
Following a career as a journalist in Ontario, Buchanan moved to Alberta and purchased the Lethbridge Weekly Herald in 1905. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to turn the paper into a daily in 1907 but it soon resumed a weekly publishing schedule.
Buchanan entered provincial politics when he contested the riding of Lethbridge City on behalf of the Alberta Liberal Party in the 1909 provincial election and won a seat in the Alberta Legislature. He switched to federal politics in the 1911 federal election and was elected for the seat of Medicine Hat as a federal Liberal.
As a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917, Buchanan crossed the floor to support the government of Sir Robert Laird Borden. He was re-elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Unionist for the new riding of Lethbridge in the 1917 general election. He did not run in the 1921 election.
Buchanan was named to the Senate of Canada at the age of 49 in 1925 and served until his death in 1954 for the Liberal Party of Canada. He continued as owner of the Lethbridge Herald until his death.
A malignant growth was discovered in Buchanan's body sometime in August 1953 and he died on July 12, 1954, ten days after celebrating his 78th birthday.
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| Legislative Assembly of Alberta | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New District |
MLA Lethbridge City 1909-1911 |
Succeeded by John Smith Stewart |
| Parliament of Canada | ||
| Preceded by Charles Alexander Magrath |
Member of Parliament Medicine Hat 1911-1917 |
Succeeded by Arthur Lewis Sifton |
| Preceded by New District |
Member of Parliament Lethbridge 1917–1921 |
Succeeded by Lincoln Henry Jelliff |
| Preceded by Jean Côté |
Senator Alberta 1925-1954 |
Succeeded by Donald Cameron |