John Alexander McDougall
Encyclopedia
John Alexander McDougall (May 20, 1854 – December 17, 1928) was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
, a municipal councillor and mayor in Edmonton
, and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
.
In 1873, he moved to Fort Garry
(now Winnipeg
) where he worked as a fur trader and completed his education at Manitoba College
. In 1877 this work brought him to Edmonton, where he decided to settle, but not before returning to Ontario in 1878 to marry his high school sweetheart, Lovisa Jane Amey, with whom he would have three sons and three daughters. The pair settled in Edmonton in 1879, where McDougall commenced trading furs in competition with the Hudson's Bay Company
.
In 1881, he was one of ten Edmontonians to guarantee the five hundred dollar annual salary of the settlement's first schoolteacher. He became a justice of the peace
in 1885.
founded McDougall & Secord, which advertised itself as "general merchants, wholesale and retail; buyers and exporters of raw furs; dealers in land scrip and north west lands; outfitters for survey parties, traders, trappers, miners and others for the north, and suppliers for country stores." The two ran the company until 1907, when they sold it and went into business as a financial house and mortgage corporation called McDougall & Secord, Limited. McDougall operated this company until his death, when its leadership was taken over by his son John Charles McDougall.
John McDougall was the first President of the Edmonton Board of Trade.
, McDougall ran for alderman of Edmonton's first town council. He was narrowly defeated, finishing seventh place (16 votes behind sixth place Philip Daly
) out of fourteen candidates in an election in which the top six candidates were elected. When he made his second attempt in 1893
, he finished first of nine candidates and was elected. He was re-elected in 1894
(finishing second of nine candidates, behind Colin Strang
) and was elected to the public school board the same year (he would serve one year).
In 1895
McDougall ran for mayor against Herbert Charles Wilson
, but was defeated by a margin of 129 votes to 91. He would make another attempt in 1896
, and would be acclaimed mayor. He did not seek re-election in 1897
, and stayed out of politics for the next decade.
In 1907
McDougall was again elected mayor, defeating Joseph Henri Picard
1217 votes to 437. During his second term as mayor, he installed an automatic telephone system in the city and oversaw the establishment of a street railway as a municipal operation. He did not seek re-election in 1908
.
In 1909
he was elected as a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for the riding of Edmonton
. He served his term, but did not seek re-election in 1913
.
McDougall spent many of his last years traveling the world with his wife. He died in Edmonton on December 17, 1928. He had been active with the Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Order
and the Edmonton Club.
McDougall was one of the founders of St. John Ambulance
in Alberta.
John A. McDougall School is named in his honour.
McDougall & Secord, Limited exists in Edmonton to this day, believed to be the oldest surviving company in Alberta. Its precursors -- McDougall's General Store and Secord's Fur Store and Warehouse -- are reproduced on 1885 Street in Fort Edmonton Park
.
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...
, a municipal councillor and mayor in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
.
Early life
John Alexander McDougall was born May 20, 1854 in Oakwood, Ontario to Alexander J. McDougall and Janet Cummings. His father died in 1867 when John was thirteen. He left school and worked to support his family.In 1873, he moved to 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...
(now 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...
) where he worked as a fur trader and completed his education at Manitoba College
Manitoba College
Manitoba College was a college that existed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1871 to 1967, when it became one of the University of Winnipeg's founding colleges. It was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba...
. In 1877 this work brought him to Edmonton, where he decided to settle, but not before returning to Ontario in 1878 to marry his high school sweetheart, Lovisa Jane Amey, with whom he would have three sons and three daughters. The pair settled in Edmonton in 1879, where McDougall commenced trading furs in competition with the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
.
In 1881, he was one of ten Edmontonians to guarantee the five hundred dollar annual salary of the settlement's first schoolteacher. He became a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1885.
Business career
McDougall traded furs until 1896, when he and partner Richard SecordRichard Secord (Alberta politician)
Richard Secord was a politician in western Canada, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, a municipal councillor in Edmonton, and a candidate for the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
founded McDougall & Secord, which advertised itself as "general merchants, wholesale and retail; buyers and exporters of raw furs; dealers in land scrip and north west lands; outfitters for survey parties, traders, trappers, miners and others for the north, and suppliers for country stores." The two ran the company until 1907, when they sold it and went into business as a financial house and mortgage corporation called McDougall & Secord, Limited. McDougall operated this company until his death, when its leadership was taken over by his son John Charles McDougall.
John McDougall was the first President of the Edmonton Board of Trade.
Political career
In 1892Edmonton municipal election, 1892
The 1892 Edmonton municipal election, held February 10, 1892, was the first after the incorporation of Edmonton as a town, and was held to elect the new town's first town council for a one year term...
, McDougall ran for alderman of Edmonton's first town council. He was narrowly defeated, finishing seventh place (16 votes behind sixth place Philip Daly
Philip Daly
Philip Ernest Daly was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Biography:...
) out of fourteen candidates in an election in which the top six candidates were elected. When he made his second attempt in 1893
Edmonton municipal election, 1893
The 1893 municipal election was held January 3, 1893 to elect the town council and three trustees for each of the public and separate school divisions.-Mayor:-Aldermen:-References:...
, he finished first of nine candidates and was elected. He was re-elected in 1894
Edmonton municipal election, 1894
The 1894 Edmonton municipal election was held January 2, 1894 to elect the town council, consisting of a mayor and six aldermen, each elected for a one year term).-Mayor:-Aldermen:-References:*...
(finishing second of nine candidates, behind Colin Strang
Colin Strang
Colin Ferrie Strang was a politician in Alberta, Canada and an alderman on Edmonton Town Council.-Biography:...
) and was elected to the public school board the same year (he would serve one year).
In 1895
Edmonton municipal election, 1895
The 1895 municipal election was held January 14, 1895 to elect the town council and four trustees for each of the public and separate school divisions...
McDougall ran for mayor against Herbert Charles Wilson
Herbert Charles Wilson
Herbert Charles Wilson was a Canadian politician and physician. He served as mayor of the Town of Edmonton and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories....
, but was defeated by a margin of 129 votes to 91. He would make another attempt in 1896
Edmonton municipal election, December 1896
The second of two 1896 municipal elections was held December 14, 1896. This was the first election to take place on the second Monday of December instead of the second Monday in January...
, and would be acclaimed mayor. He did not seek re-election in 1897
Edmonton municipal election, 1897
The 1897 municipal election was held December 13, 1897. This was the last election to elect a full town council for a one year term, as the 1898 election was conducted under a staggered system...
, and stayed out of politics for the next decade.
In 1907
Edmonton municipal election, 1907
The 1907 municipal election was held December 9, 1907 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and six separate school trustees...
McDougall was again elected mayor, defeating Joseph Henri Picard
Joseph Henri Picard
Joseph Henri Picard was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Biography:...
1217 votes to 437. During his second term as mayor, he installed an automatic telephone system in the city and oversaw the establishment of a street railway as a municipal operation. He did not seek re-election in 1908
Edmonton municipal election, 1908
The 1908 municipal election was held December 14, 1908 for the purpose of electing a mayor and six aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as three public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
.
In 1909
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
he was elected as a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for the riding of Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
. He served his term, but did not seek re-election in 1913
Alberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
.
Last Years and Legacy
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and the Edmonton Club.
McDougall was one of the founders of St. John Ambulance
St. John Ambulance in Canada
St. John Ambulance Canada, or SJAC is the Canadian chapter of St. John Ambulance , a worldwide non-profit first aid training organization. The mission of St. John Ambulance Canada is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety, and quality of life through training and community service...
in Alberta.
John A. McDougall School is named in his honour.
McDougall & Secord, Limited exists in Edmonton to this day, believed to be the oldest surviving company in Alberta. Its precursors -- McDougall's General Store and Secord's Fur Store and Warehouse -- are reproduced on 1885 Street in Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park is an attraction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Named for the first enduring European post in the area of modern-day Edmonton, the park is the largest living history museum in Canada by area...
.