George Lane (politician)

George Lane (6 March 1856 – 24 September 1925) was an American-born Canadian politician and rancher and known as one of the Big Four who helped found the Calgary Stampede in 1912. In 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.^[1]

Quick Facts Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Bow Valley, Preceded by ...

George Lane
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Bow Valley
In office April 17, 1913 – May 26, 1913
Preceded by	New District
Succeeded by	Charles Richmond Mitchell
Personal details
Born	(1856-03-06)March 6, 1856 Booneville, Iowa
Died	September 24, 1925(1925-09-24) (aged 69) Bar U Ranch, Alberta
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Elizabeth Sexsmith
Children	8
Occupation	Rancher, businessman, politician

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Lane was foreman at the Bar U Ranch and eventually returned in the early 1900s to purchase it for $250,000.^[2] In 1919, he hosted the Edward VIII, then the Prince of Wales, during his Royal Tour of Canada. On Edward's behalf, he executed the purchase of the neighbouring E.P. Ranch.^[3] In 1885, he married Elizabeth Sexsmith and they raised eight children together.^[4]

In the 1913 Alberta general election, Lane was elected as the first member for the Bow Valley riding for the Alberta Liberal Party. Somewhat of a star candidate for the Liberal Party, he defeated Conservative incumbent Harold Riley, who had changed from the Gleichen district, thereby helping keep a critical southern Alberta seat from going Conservative. He would spend very little time as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, however, resigning a short time later so that defeated Cabinet Minister Charles R. Mitchell could regain a seat in the legislature.