Hugh John Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh John Macdonald, PC
(March 13, 1850 – March 29, 1929) was the only surviving son of the first Prime Minister of Canada
, Sir John A. Macdonald
, and was a politician in his own right, serving as a member of the Canadian House of Commons
and a federal cabinet minister, and briefly as the eighth Premier of Manitoba
.
to John A. Macdonald and his first wife Isabella Clark Macdonald ((1811 – 1857). After Isabella died leaving Macdonald a widower with a seven-year-old son, Hugh John Macdonald would be principally raised by his paternal aunt and her husband. In 1869 he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Toronto
and then studied law in Toronto
and Ottawa
. He was called to the Bar
in 1872, and became a member of his father's firm. Grieved by the death of his first wife, Macdonald moved to Winnipeg in 1882 and set up his own law practice.
on 13 October 1868 as a Rifleman. He spent the summer of 1866 with the 14th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles near Cornwall, in anticipation of a Fenian invasion
. He rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as an Ensign on 22 April 1870. Macdonald then joined the expedition of Colonel Garnet Joseph Wolseley and made the trek to the Red River settlement in Manitoba
. The Wolseley Expedition
was formed to put down Louis Riel
's Red River Rebellion
. After taking part in the bloodless capture of Upper Fort Garry
(after Riel's departure) he returned to Toronto, but would take part in putting down Riel's second rebellion three years later. He retired from the QOR on 26 April 1882 following the death of his step-mother, and moved to Winnipeg
. During the North-West rebellion in 1885, Macdonald served as a Lieutenant in the 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion of Rifles, a unit which he helped to organize. He later fought at Fish Creek in Saskatchewan.
, a brother of Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet
. Gertrude's mother, Agnes, was a daughter of Senator Benjamin Seymour
, of Port Hope, Ontario
, and the sister of Emily Seymour who was married to Lt. Colonel Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
. They left no children.
, representing Winnipeg City
for the Conservative Party
. He was sworn into parliament at the side of his father, to the applause of members from both sides. After the older Macdonald died later in the year, however, Hugh John showed little enthusiasm for life in Ottawa. Despite efforts by John Abbott
and John S.D. Thompson to keep him in federal politics, he resigned his seat in 1893 and returned to Winnipeg.
In 1896, Prime Minister Charles Tupper
convinced him to return to Ottawa and serve as Minister of the Interior and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. This occurred at a time when the Conservative Party was suffering from internal divisions, and was due to face the public in a general election. Tupper probably hoped that the Macdonald name would win back some wayward voters.
The 1896 election
was won by Wilfrid Laurier
's Liberals, and while Macdonald was again elected for Winnipeg City (narrowly defeating former provincial minister Joseph Martin
), his election was declared void in early 1897. He once again returned to Winnipeg, and did not contest the subsequent by-election.
In March 1897, Macdonald was approached to take the leadership of Manitoba's Conservative Party
. The party had suffered severe losses to Thomas Greenway
's Liberals
in the elections of 1888
, 1892
and 1896
, and had lacked direction since the death of former Premier John Norquay
in 1889. By 1897, however, there was a recognition that the provincial situation was susceptible to change. Greenway's second and third majorities were based almost entirely on popular support for his education reforms
; with the education issue resolved in 1896, the Conservatives had a viable chance to form government. Macdonald accepted the leadership position, and (though without seat in the legislature) spent the next two years touring the province in anticipation of the next election.
, with Conservatives taking 22 seats out of 40. Macdonald narrowly defeated incumbent Liberal John D. Cameron in Winnipeg South
, and was sworn in as Premier on January 10, 1900. He also took the position of Municipal Commissioner
.
His term in office was brief. Macdonald succeeded in passing a prohibition bill (known as the "Macdonald Act"), but was again prevailed upon to run for the federal Conservatives in the 1900 federal election
. It is possible that he intended to replace Charles Tupper
as national party leader.
Macdonald resigned as Premier on October 29, 1900, and challenged Minister of the Interior
Clifford Sifton
in the riding of Brandon
. Sifton was the most powerful cabinet minister in western Canada, but the Conservatives believed that Hugh John's personal popularity would be enough to defeat him. They were mistaken. Despite a spirited challenge, Sifton won the election with 5,011 votes to Macdonald's 4,342.
Macdonald abandoned electoral politics
after this loss, and returned to his law practice. He continued to be involved in the Conservative Party organization within Manitoba, serving as President of the Manitoba Conservative Association from 1905 to 1908. He was appointed Police Magistrate for Winnipeg in 1911, and was made a Knight Bachelor
in June 1913. There were rumours that he would return to lead the Conservative Party in 1915, but this did not come to pass.
Macdonald was Winnipeg's Magistrate during the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. Immigrants arrested during the strike appeared before him and he ordered them sent to an internment camp at Kapuskasing from where they were eventually deported without the right to formal hearings.
Macdonald's last home in downtown Winnipeg, called Dalnavert
, is now a museum and houses the offices of the Manitoba Historical Society.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(March 13, 1850 – March 29, 1929) was the only surviving son of the first Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, and was a politician in his own right, serving as a member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian 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...
and a federal cabinet minister, and briefly as the eighth Premier of Manitoba
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
.
Early life
Macdonald was born in Kingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
to John A. Macdonald and his first wife Isabella Clark Macdonald ((1811 – 1857). After Isabella died leaving Macdonald a widower with a seven-year-old son, Hugh John Macdonald would be principally raised by his paternal aunt and her husband. In 1869 he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and then studied law in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He was called to the Bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1872, and became a member of his father's firm. Grieved by the death of his first wife, Macdonald moved to Winnipeg in 1882 and set up his own law practice.
Military service
Macdonald enrolled in The Queen's Own Rifles of CanadaThe Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve...
on 13 October 1868 as a Rifleman. He spent the summer of 1866 with the 14th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles near Cornwall, in anticipation of a Fenian invasion
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...
. He rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as an Ensign on 22 April 1870. Macdonald then joined the expedition of Colonel Garnet Joseph Wolseley and made the trek to the Red River settlement in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The Wolseley Expedition
Wolseley Expedition
The Wolseley Expedition was a military force authorized by Sir John A. Macdonald to confront Louis Riel and the Métis in 1870, during the Red River Rebellion, at the Red River Settlement in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba...
was formed to put down Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
's Red River Rebellion
Red River Rebellion
The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...
. After taking part in the bloodless capture of Upper Fort Garry
Fort Garry
Fort Garry, also known as Upper Fort Garry, was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1822 on or near the site of the North West Company's Fort Gibraltar. Fort Garry was named after Nicholas...
(after Riel's departure) he returned to Toronto, but would take part in putting down Riel's second rebellion three years later. He retired from the QOR on 26 April 1882 following the death of his step-mother, and moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. During the North-West rebellion in 1885, Macdonald served as a Lieutenant in the 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion of Rifles, a unit which he helped to organize. He later fought at Fish Creek in Saskatchewan.
Marriage
In 1883, he married Gertrude Agnes VanKoughnet. She was the daughter of a close friend and political ally of his father, Salter Jehosaphat VanKoughnet (1833-1888) Q.C., of TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, a brother of Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet
Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet
The Hon. Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet , President of the Executive Council of the Province of Canada, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chancellor of Upper Canada.-Early life:...
. Gertrude's mother, Agnes, was a daughter of Senator Benjamin Seymour
Benjamin Seymour
Benjamin Seymour was a political figure in Canada West and a Conservative member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1880....
, of Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, and the sister of Emily Seymour who was married to Lt. Colonel Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
Lt.-Colonel The Hon. Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams was a Canadian businessman, farmer and political figure. His statue stands in front of the town hall of Port Hope, Ontario....
. They left no children.
Politics
Macdonald was elected to the House of Commons in the 1891 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1891
The Canadian federal election of 1891 was held on March 5 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 7th Parliament of Canada. It was won by the Conservative Party of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald....
, representing Winnipeg City
Winnipeg (electoral district)
Winnipeg was a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1917.This riding was created in 1882 from parts of Selkirk riding....
for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
. He was sworn into parliament at the side of his father, to the applause of members from both sides. After the older Macdonald died later in the year, however, Hugh John showed little enthusiasm for life in Ottawa. Despite efforts by John Abbott
John Abbott
Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, PC, KCMG, QC was the third Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the office for seventeen months, from June 16, 1891 to November 24, 1892. - Life and work :...
and John S.D. Thompson to keep him in federal politics, he resigned his seat in 1893 and returned to Winnipeg.
In 1896, Prime Minister Charles Tupper
Charles Tupper
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC was a Canadian father of Confederation: as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He later went on to serve as the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, sworn in to office on May 1, 1896, seven days after...
convinced him to return to Ottawa and serve as Minister of the Interior and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. This occurred at a time when the Conservative Party was suffering from internal divisions, and was due to face the public in a general election. Tupper probably hoped that the Macdonald name would win back some wayward voters.
The 1896 election
Canadian federal election, 1896
The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Canada. Though the Conservative Party won a plurality of the popular vote, the Liberal Party, led by Wilfrid Laurier, won the majority of seats to form the...
was won by Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
's Liberals, and while Macdonald was again elected for Winnipeg City (narrowly defeating former provincial minister Joseph Martin
Joseph Martin (Canadian politician)
Joseph Martin was a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, British Columbia and the United Kingdom often referred to as "Fighting Joe".-Early life:...
), his election was declared void in early 1897. He once again returned to Winnipeg, and did not contest the subsequent by-election.
In March 1897, Macdonald was approached to take the leadership of Manitoba's Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
. The party had suffered severe losses to Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
's Liberals
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
in the elections of 1888
Manitoba general election, 1888
This was the seventh Manitoba general election and was held on July 11, 1888....
, 1892
Manitoba general election, 1892
This was the eighth Manitoba general election and was held on July 23, 1892....
and 1896
Manitoba general election, 1896
This was the ninth Manitoba general election and was held on January 15, 1896....
, and had lacked direction since the death of former Premier John Norquay
John Norquay
John Norquay was the Premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. He was born near St. Andrews in what was then the Red River Colony, making him the first Premier of Manitoba to have been born in the region....
in 1889. By 1897, however, there was a recognition that the provincial situation was susceptible to change. Greenway's second and third majorities were based almost entirely on popular support for his education reforms
Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a political crisis in the Canadian Province of Manitoba that occurred late in the 19th century, involving publicly funded separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants...
; with the education issue resolved in 1896, the Conservatives had a viable chance to form government. Macdonald accepted the leadership position, and (though without seat in the legislature) spent the next two years touring the province in anticipation of the next election.
Premiership
The Conservative Party of Manitoba became a legally recognized entity in 1899, and drew up its first election platform shortly thereafter. This was a progressive document by the standards of its age, calling for an independent board of education, new agricultural and technical colleges, a Workmen's Compensation Act, prohibition, and the nationalization of railways. On a less progressive note, the party also tapped into popular resentment toward new Eastern European immigrants. Both of these factors contributed to an upset victory in the 1899 provincial electionManitoba general election, 1899
This was the tenth Manitoba general election and was held on December 7, 1899....
, with Conservatives taking 22 seats out of 40. Macdonald narrowly defeated incumbent Liberal John D. Cameron in Winnipeg South
Winnipeg South
Winnipeg South is a Canadian federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979, and since 1988. It covers the south of the city of Winnipeg...
, and was sworn in as Premier on January 10, 1900. He also took the position of Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner (Manitoba)
The office of the Municipal Commissioner is a former government department in the Canadian province of Manitoba, established by the government of John Norquay in 1887...
.
His term in office was brief. Macdonald succeeded in passing a prohibition bill (known as the "Macdonald Act"), but was again prevailed upon to run for the federal Conservatives in the 1900 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1900
The Canadian federal election of 1900 was held on November 7 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Canada. As a result of the election, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, was re-elected to a second majority government, defeating the...
. It is possible that he intended to replace Charles Tupper
Charles Tupper
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC was a Canadian father of Confederation: as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He later went on to serve as the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, sworn in to office on May 1, 1896, seven days after...
as national party leader.
Macdonald resigned as Premier on October 29, 1900, and challenged Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (Canada)
The Minister of the Interior was a cabinet post responsible for federal land management, Indian affairs and natural resources extraction...
Clifford Sifton
Clifford Sifton
Sir Clifford Sifton, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician best known for being Minister of the Interior under Sir Wilfrid Laurier...
in the riding of Brandon
Brandon (electoral district)
Brandon was a federal electoral district in the province of Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons from 1896 to 1953.It was created in 1892 from parts of Marquette and Selkirk ridings....
. Sifton was the most powerful cabinet minister in western Canada, but the Conservatives believed that Hugh John's personal popularity would be enough to defeat him. They were mistaken. Despite a spirited challenge, Sifton won the election with 5,011 votes to Macdonald's 4,342.
Macdonald abandoned electoral politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
after this loss, and returned to his law practice. He continued to be involved in the Conservative Party organization within Manitoba, serving as President of the Manitoba Conservative Association from 1905 to 1908. He was appointed Police Magistrate for Winnipeg in 1911, and was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in June 1913. There were rumours that he would return to lead the Conservative Party in 1915, but this did not come to pass.
Macdonald was Winnipeg's Magistrate during the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. Immigrants arrested during the strike appeared before him and he ordered them sent to an internment camp at Kapuskasing from where they were eventually deported without the right to formal hearings.
Macdonald's last home in downtown Winnipeg, called Dalnavert
Dalnavert
Dalnavert is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the restored home of Sir Hugh John Macdonald, former Premier of Manitoba and son of Sir John A. Macdonald. The house is an example of Queen Anne Style architecture, and has been furnished for the late Victoria era...
, is now a museum and houses the offices of the Manitoba Historical Society.