Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians (1890)
Prior, Edward Gawler, M. P. (Victoria), second son of Rev. Henry Prior, rector of Dallowgill, near Ripon, Yorkshire, England, was born at Dallowgill on May 21st, 1853 and educated at Leeds Grammar School, and subsequently studied the profession he afterwards followed, that of mining engineer, with J. Tolson Whyte, C. E., at Wakefield. He practised his profession in England till 1873, when he left to come to British Columbia.
He arrived at Victoria on December 12th, 1873, and first settled in Nanaimo, where he was appointed assistant manager of the Vancouver Coal Mining & Land Co., Ltd. He occupied this position till August, 1878, when he resigned and was appointed Government Inspector of Mines for the Province of British Columbia. He continued in this office till May, 1880, when he resigned and bought in with Alfred Fellows, iron and hardware merchant, Victoria. In 1883 he bought out Mr. Fellow's interest, and has since follwed this business.
In the general election of 1886 he was returned at the head of the poll to represent Victoria city in the Provincial Legislature. He occupied this seat till January 16th, 1888, when a large requisition was presented to him asking him to resign and stand for the House of Commons in place of Mr. N. Shakespeare. He consented and was elected by acclamation. He has since continued to represent Victoria city in the Federal Parliament.
Mr. Prior is a member of St. George's Society and the Masonic fraternity.
[Dictionary, pp. 270-271].
Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians. With a Historical Sketch. By J.B. Kerr (Vancouver, B.C.: Kerr & Begg, 1890).