Alexander McGillivray (Alberta politician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Andrew McGillivray (February 11, 1884-December 12, 1940) was a lawyer and provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Calgary
from 1926 to 1930. He served as leader of the Alberta Conservative party from 1925 to 1929.
on February 11, 1884. After High School he attended St. Francis College in Richmond
, Quebec
and later attended Dalhousie University
, receiving his LLB in 1906.
in 1907 and admitted to the bar on May 14, 1907. McGillivray practiced in Stettler
, Alberta until 1910 quitting his practice to run as a candidate in the 1911 federal election.
After failing to win a seat, McGillivray moved to Calgary
and started a law firm with Thomas Tweedie
. He later became Crown Prosecutor, King's Counselor in 1919, and served as such until he was elected leader of the Alberta Conservative Party in 1925.
in the 1911 Canadian federal election
. He was defeated by incumbent Member of Parliament Michael Clark
.
McGillivray became leader of the provincial Conservatives
in 1925. He worked tirelessly to build the party's organization across the province that had diminished after the party lost all their seats in the 1921 Alberta general election
. In the 1926 election, the Conservatives picked up four seats including McGillivray's in Calgary.
McGillivray ran in the Calgary
provincial electoral district. He headed the polls and was the only candidate elected on the first count.
McGillivray stepped down as Conservative leader in 1929 and did not run for office again.
in 1931. He died of a heart attack, on December 12, 1940 in Edmonton, while still a member of the Court.
, became the Chief Justice of Alberta, and his grandson, Douglas A. McGillivray, Q.C., was President of the Law Society of Alberta
.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Calgary
Calgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
from 1926 to 1930. He served as leader of the Alberta Conservative party from 1925 to 1929.
Early life
Alexander Andrew McGillivray was born in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
on February 11, 1884. After High School he attended St. Francis College in Richmond
Richmond, Quebec
Richmond, population 3,336 , is a town nestled amidst rolling farmlands on the Saint-François River between Sherbrooke and Drummondville, in the heart of Estrie in Quebec, Canada.-Richmond today:...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and later attended Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, receiving his LLB in 1906.
Early Career
After completing university he moved to AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in 1907 and admitted to the bar on May 14, 1907. McGillivray practiced in Stettler
Stettler, Alberta
Stettler is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Red Deer at the junction of Highway 12 and Highway 56. The town is located in the eastern region of central Alberta and nicknamed "The Heart of Alberta."- History :...
, Alberta until 1910 quitting his practice to run as a candidate in the 1911 federal election.
After failing to win a seat, McGillivray moved to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and started a law firm with Thomas Tweedie
Thomas Tweedie
Thomas Mitchell March Tweedie was a politician and lawyer and Chief Justice from, Canada.-Early life:Thomas was born in River John, Nova Scotia in 1871....
. He later became Crown Prosecutor, King's Counselor in 1919, and served as such until he was elected leader of the Alberta Conservative Party in 1925.
Political Career
McGillivray ran for a seat to the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1911 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
. He was defeated by incumbent Member of Parliament Michael Clark
Michael Clark (Canadian politician)
Michael Clark was a Canadian physician and politician from Alberta, Canada.-Early life:...
.
McGillivray became leader of the provincial Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
in 1925. He worked tirelessly to build the party's organization across the province that had diminished after the party lost all their seats in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. In the 1926 election, the Conservatives picked up four seats including McGillivray's in Calgary.
McGillivray ran in the Calgary
Calgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
provincial electoral district. He headed the polls and was the only candidate elected on the first count.
McGillivray stepped down as Conservative leader in 1929 and did not run for office again.
Judicial Career
McGillivray was appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate DivisionCourt of Appeal of Alberta
The Court of Appeal of Alberta is an Canadian appellate court.-Jurisdiction and Hierarchy within Canadian Courts:The Court is the highest court in Alberta, Canada...
in 1931. He died of a heart attack, on December 12, 1940 in Edmonton, while still a member of the Court.
Family
McGillivray's son, William A. McGillivrayWilliam A. McGillivray
William Alexander McGillivray was a lawyer, jurist, and a Chief Justice of Alberta, Canada.- Early life :...
, became the Chief Justice of Alberta, and his grandson, Douglas A. McGillivray, Q.C., was President of the Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
.