John A. Macdonald
1st prime minister of Canada from 1867 to 1873 and 1878 to 1891 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir John Alexander Macdonald GCB PC QC (January 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first Prime Minister of Canada. He was an important influence on the Canadian Confederation, July 1, 1867. Macdonald was in office from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891, making him the second longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada (after William Lyon Mackenzie King) and the only one to win six majority governments.
Sir John A. Macdonald | |
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1st Prime Minister of Canada | |
In office 1 July 1867 – 5 November 1873 | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Governor General | The Viscount Monck The Lord Lisgar The Earl of Dufferin |
Preceded by | Office established (see Canadian Confederation) |
Succeeded by | Alexander Mackenzie |
In office 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891 | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Governor General | The Earl of Dufferin Marquess of Lorne The Marquess of Lansdowne The Lord Stanley of Preston |
Preceded by | Alexander Mackenzie |
Succeeded by | John Abbott |
Joint-Premier of the Province of Canada Premier of Canada West | |
In office 24 May 1856 – 2 August 1858 | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Preceded by | Allan MacNab |
Succeeded by | George Brown |
In office 6 August 1858 – 24 May 1862 | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Preceded by | George Brown |
Succeeded by | John Sandfield Macdonald |
In office 30 May 1864 – 30 June 1867 | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Preceded by | John Sandfield Macdonald |
Succeeded by | John Sandfield Macdonald (as Premier of Ontario) |
Personal details | |
Born | John Alexander Mcdonald 10 or 11 January 1815 Glasgow, Scotland |
Died | 6 June 1891(1891-06-06) (aged 76) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Cause of death | Stroke |
Resting place | Cataraqui Cemetery |
Political party | Conservative |
Other political affiliations | Upper Canada Tory (1843–1867) Great Coalition (1864–1867) Liberal-Conservative (1867–1873) |
Spouse(s) | Isabella Clark (m. 1843; died 1857) Agnes Bernard (m. 1867) |
Children | 3 (including Hugh John Macdonald) |
Education | Apprenticeship |
Profession | Lawyer |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Nickname(s) | "Old Tomorrow" "The Old Chieftain" |
Allegiance | British Empire Upper Canada |
Branch/service | Loyalist militia |
Years of service | 1837 |
Rank | Private |
Battles/wars | Rebellions of 1837–1838
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Cabinet offices held
Leadership offices held
Parliamentary offices held
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One of the things Macdonald wanted to do was to build a transcontinental railway that would link Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. That railway, called the Canadian Pacific Railway, was completed in 1885.
Macdonald did not speak French as well as the Prime Ministers who came after him. He could speak Scottish Gaelic and a bit of Latin.
Macdonald had four siblings. He was the third of five children.