British Columbia (Colony). Attorney-General
- 14
- Government
- 1859-1871
In 1859, the Colonial Office appointed George Hunter Cary as the first Attorney-General of the Colony of British Columbia. Prior to that, Governor James Douglas had appointed Judge Matthew Begbie as his acting Attorney-General in 1858 to provide legal advice in the drafting of laws pertaining to the administration of justice in his jurisdiction. At the time of Begbie’s appointment, Douglas requested that the Colonial Office appoint a permanent Attorney-General. The Colonial Office responded by appointing Cary. As an officer of the Crown, the Attorney-General of the Colony of British Columbia represented the Crown and the public in the courts, was the official legal advisor to the government, and was responsible for the organization of the civil justice system. In 1861, Cary resigned from his position in the Colony of British Columbia, although he remained as the Attorney-General of Vancouver Island until 1864. He was succeeded as Attorney-General of the Colony of British Columbia by Henry Crease who retained the position until 1870. Crease was followed briefly by George Phillippo, Edward Alston, and then John McCreight who served jointly as the first Attorney-General and the first premier of the Province of British Columbia in 1871.