Memorable Manitobans: Edwin Bourke (1836-1915)

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Edwin Bourke
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Farmer, MLA (1871-1874), MLA (1875-1878).

Born in the Red River Settlement on 19 September 1836, son of John Palmer Bourke and Nancy Campbell (1792-1887), he was brought up on the site of Hay Field Farm in St. James Parish. He subsequently owned this property which had been bought by his father from the Hudson’s Bay Company.

In 1871, he was chosen as a captain of the volunteers who organized to protect the country from the Fenian Raids. He was elected to represent St. James in Manitoba’s first Legislature in December 1870. Re-elected in December 1874, he was a member of the Legislature that abolished the Manitoba Upper House. In later years he served on the St. James council and on the school board.

In 1863, he married Isabella Hallett (?-?), daughter of William Peter Hallett and Maria Pruden. They had six children: William Bourke, Walter Palmer Bourke (1865-1866), Edmond Bourke (1866-1958), Maria Ann Bourke (1868-1973), Florence Bourke (1870-1955), Catherine Isabella Bourke (1872-1957), and Arthur Herbert Bourke (1875-1962).

Bourke died at Ocean Park, California on 17 March 1915. His body was returned to Winnipeg for burial in St. James Anglican Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Ryan Block (44 Princess Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

“Edwin Bourke died last night at Ocean Park,” undated newspaper clipping [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B6]

“Was member of first legislature,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 March 1915 [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B6]

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Ray Chapman, a great-grandson of Edwin Bourke and grandson of Maria Ann (Bourke) Good, for providing a portrait and additional information.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 October 2018

Memorable Manitobans

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