Called to the bar as a lawyer in
London in
1857, Alston arrived in
Victoria in
1859 and was appointed registrar of titles for
Vancouver Island in
1861. A member of the Legislative Council for
Vancouver Island in
1861-62 and again for the united colony during
1868-1871, Alston disapproved of more democratic forms of government. After the colonies united
in
1866, he confided his pleasure in having
got rid of the House of Apes,
the Assembly of
Vancouver Island. When
British Columbia joined confederation in
1871, he requested that the imperial government transfer him since he could see
no hope of preferment within the Colony, inasmuch as a Responsible form of Government
has been established, in which all vacancies will be filled by the political friends
of the ministry of the day.
He left
British Columbia in
August 1871 and served as queen's advocate in Sierra Leone for a year before succumbing to African
fever.