Bjorn Ingemar Johnson (1890 - 1964)

Born 10 Dec 1890 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Husband of Kate Scott (Simpson) Johnson — married 29 Jun 1920 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Died 12 Jan 1964 at age 73 in Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

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Preceded by
John Hart

24th Premier of British Columbia
December 29, 1947 – August 1, 1952

Succeeded by
W.A.C. Bennett

Biography

Byron Johnson is Notable.

Byron Johnson is/was a significant British Columbian.

Björn "Boss" Ingimar Jónsson was Premier of British Columbia.

Family life

Björn was born on December 10, 1890 and registered as Byron Ingemar Johnson^[1]. He was christened as Bjorn Ingimar Johnson in St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Victoria, British Columbia on March 15, 1891^[2]. He was the son of Oliver Jónsson and Gudrun Finnson.

At the time of the 1901 Canada Census, Oliver, Gudrun, John V, Byron I, Lilly O, and Annie D Johnson were listed as living in Victoria, along with Gudrun's sister Lizzie Finnson^[3].

Byron married Kate Simpson in Victoria on June 29, 1920^[4]. At the time of their marriage, Byron's occupation was listed as "Contractor".

At the time of the 1921 Canada Census, Byron and Kate Johnson were listed as living in Victoria^[5]. At the time of the census, Byron's occupation was listed as "Trucking".

Work

He was first elected to the BC Legislature as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Victoria City (Liberal party) in the 1933 election and served before being defeated in the 1937 election.

After World War II, he returned to the legislature in the 1945 election this time as the member for New Westminster and served in the cabinet of a coalition government formed by the Liberal and Conservative parties, and led by Premier John Hart. He became the leader after Hart's resignation in 1947 becoming the first Premier of British Columbia born after confederation in the province.

His government introduced compulsory health insurance and a 3% provincial sales tax to pay for it. They also expanded the highway system, extended the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and negotiated the Alcan Agreement, which facilitated construction of the Kenney Dam, the first major hydroelectric project in the province. They also brought in a programme of diking the Fraser Valley's banks following the devastating 1948 flooding of the Fraser River. He is also noted for appointing Nancy Hodges as the second female Speaker in the British Commonwealth and disbanding the British Columbia Provincial Police and replacing them with the R.C.M.P.

Death

Byron died in Oak Bay, British Columbia on January 12, 1964^[6], and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia.

Sources

1. ↑ Registration of Birth for Byron Ingemar Johnson, Event Type: Birth, Registration Number: 1890-09-849150, BC Archives Mfilm Number: B13804, GSU Mfilm Number: 2115625, Event Date: 1890-12-10, Event Place: VICTORIA, Person: BYRON INGEMAR JOHNSON, Vital Stat Images(s): 004401551_00759.jpg, BC Archives - Royal BC Museum.
2. ↑ Registration of Baptism for Bjorn Ingimar Johnson, Event Type: Baptism, BC Archives Mfilm Number: B16224 - not available at BC Archives, Event Date: 1891-03-15, Event Place: VICTORIA, Person: BJORN INGIMAR JOHNSON, Person's Father: OLIVER UNKNOWN, Person's Mother: GUDRUN FENSON, Denomination: PRESBYTERIAN, Church Name: ST ANDREWS, Other Location: VICTORIA, Birth Date: 1890-12-10, BC Archives - Royal BC Museum.
3. ↑ Census of Canada, 1901, British Columbia, Victoria (4), Victoria (City) (D), page 14, dwelling 152, family 152, Byron I Johnson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, roll T-6430 (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=79693 : Accessed May 25, 2018).
4. ↑ Registration of Marriage for Byron Johnson and Kate Simpson, Event Type: Marriage, Registration Number: 1920-09-217130, BC Archives Mfilm Number: B12904, GSU Mfilm Number: 2032873, Event Date: 1920-06-29, Event Place: VICTORIA, Groom: BYRON JOHNSON, Bride: KATE SIMPSON, Vital Stat Images(s): 004400869_02843.jpg, BC Archives - Royal BC Museum.
5. ↑ Census of Canada, 1921, British Columbia, Victoria (City) (24), Ward 3 (22), page 18, dwelling 212, family 212, Byron Johnson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1921/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=4781097 : Accessed July 6, 2018).
6. ↑ Registration of Death for Byron Ingemar Johnson, Event Type: Death, Registration Number: 1964-09-001308, BC Archives Mfilm Number: B13265, GSU Mfilm Number: 2033688, Event Date: 1964-01-12, Event Place: OAK BAY, Age at Death: 73, Person: BYRON INGEMAR JOHNSON, Vital Stat Images(s): 004479256_00323.jpg, BC Archives - Royal BC Museum.

See also:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 August 2020), memorial page for Byron Ingemar Johnson (10 Dec 1890–12 Jan 1964), Find A Grave: Memorial #6374, citing Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, Capital Regional District, British Columbia, Canada ; Maintained by Find A Grave .

• Victoria Heritage Foundation: 1439 Pembroke Street

• Wikipedia: Boss Johnson

• Wikidata: Item Q1018609, en:Wikipedia