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Introduction
Alone at the Top
The Path to Power
Leading Canada
Private Life
Afterwards
[graphic]
Facts
Fun
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John A. Macdonald, circa 1845-1850.
John A. Macdonald,
circa 1845-1850.
Copyright/Source

 

Sir John A. Macdonald with the Fathers of Confederation.
Sir John A. Macdonald with
the Fathers of Confederation.
Copyright/Source

 

Cover of the book John A. Macdonald by Peter B. Waite.
Cover of the book John A.
Macdonald by Peter B. Waite.
Copyright/Source

 

Agnes Macdonald, wife of Sir John A. Macdonald, 1881.
Agnes Macdonald, wife of Sir
John A. Macdonald, 1881.
Copyright/Source
 First Among Equals - Children's Version : The Prime Minister in Canadian Life and Politics
[graphic]

Sir John Alexander Macdonald
Sir John Alexander MacDonald
Copyright/Source

Born 1815, Died 1891

Time as Prime Minister
1867 - 1873
1878 - 1891

Born

  • January 10 or 11, 1815, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Emigrated to Canada in 1820

Education

  • Midland District Grammar School and John Cruickshank School, Kingston (Ontario)

Personal Life

  • Married 1843, Isabella Clark (1811 - 1856)
  • Two sons (one died in infancy)
  • Re-married 1867, Susan Agnes Bernard (1836 - 1920)
  • One daughter

Occupations

  • Lawyer (called to the Bar of Upper Canada in 1836)
  • Businessman
  • 1837 Private, the Commercial Bank Guard
  • 1843 - 1846 Alderman for Kingston, Ontario

Political Party

  • Liberal-Conservative (forerunner of Progressive Conservative Party)
  • 1867 - 1891 Party Leader

Constituencies

  • 1867 - 1878, 1887 - 1891 Kingston Ontario
  • 1878 - 1882 Victoria British Columbia
  • 1882 - 1887 Carleton Ontario

Other Ministries

  • 1847 - 1848 Receiver General (Province of Canada)
  • 1854 - 1858, 1858 - 1862, 1864 - 1867 Attorney General (Canada West)
  • 1861 - 1862, 1865 - 1867 Militia Affairs
  • 1867 - 1873 Justice and Attorney General
  • 1878 - 1883 Interior
  • 1878 - 1887 Superintendant General of Indian Affairs
  • 1889 - 1891 Railways and Canals

Political Record

  • Joint Premier, Province of Canada, with Étienne-Paschal Taché 1856 - 1857, and with George-Étienne Cartier 1857 - 1858, 1858 - 1862
  • Co-leader, Great Coalition, with George-Étienne Cartier and George Brown, 1864 - 1865
  • Father of Confederation 1867
  • Creation of provinces of Manitoba 1870, British Columbia 1871, and Prince Edward Island 1873
  • Red River Rebellion 1870
  • Building of Canadian Pacific Railway 1871 - 1885
  • North West Mounted Police 1873
  • Pacific Scandal 1873
  • Leader of the Opposition 1873 - 1878
  • National Policy 1879
  • Northwest Rebellion 1885
  • Creation of the first national park at Banff, Alberta 1885

Died

  • June 6, 1891, Ottawa, Ontario, while still in office
  • Grave site: Cataraqui Cemetery, near Kingston, Ontario

Source: Canada's Prime Ministers, 1867-1994. [Ottawa]: National Archives of Canada, c1994. 20 p.

Proactive Disclosure
Created: 2001-04-23
Updated: 2001-11-20
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