About George Riley
Lived 1843 – 1916 (aged 72). George Riley was a Canadian politician and merchant.
George Riley (April 2, 1843 – January 19, 1916) was a Canadian merchant and Liberal politician.
Born in St. Catharines, Canada West, the son of P. Riley, he was educated there and in Buffalo, New York. In 1885, Riley moved to British Columbia, becoming a merchant in Victoria. He married Mary N. Balfour in 1908.
He was chosen in a 1902 by-election to represent Victoria in the House of Commons of Canada, after the election of Edward Gawler Prior was voided. He was re-elected once, serving as an MP for Victoria City until 1906, when he resigned to allow William Templeman, a minister in Wilfrid Laurier's government, to take his seat. Shortly thereafter, Riley was appointed to the Senate.
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Important facts
People in George Riley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped George Riley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was George Riley?
Canadian politician
When was George Riley born?
George Riley was born on 2 April 1843.
When did George Riley die?
George Riley died on 19 January 1916.
What was George Riley's occupation?
George Riley was a politician and merchant.
What nationality was George Riley?
George Riley was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: George Riley (British Columbia politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Riley. https://biography.guide/george-riley-politician/
MLA: "George Riley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-riley-politician/.
Chicago: "George Riley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-riley-politician/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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