John Michael Macdonald was a Canadian

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...

 politician.

Born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia

North Sydney, Nova Scotia

North Sydney is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Located on the north side of Sydney Harbour, along the eastern coast of Cape Breton Island, North Sydney is an important port in Atlantic Canada as it is the western terminus of the Marine Atlantic ferry service...

, the son of Joseph Macdonald

Joseph Macdonald

Joseph Macdonald was a lawyer, magistrate and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton Centre from 1925 to 1933 and Cape Breton North from 1933 to 1937 as a Conservative member....

 and Theresa MacDonald, he was educated at St. Francis Xavier University

St. Francis Xavier University

St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...

 and 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...

. He was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1945. He practised law with his father and with Ronald J. Macdonald. During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Macdonald served with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and with the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.

He ran unsuccessfully as the National Government candidate (the label used by the Conservative Party/Progressive 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...

 during those elections) for 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...

 in the riding of Cape Breton North and Victoria

Cape Breton North and Victoria

Cape Breton North and Victoria was a federal electoral district in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1968.-History:This riding was created in 1903 as "North Cape Breton and Victoria"' riding from Cape Breton and Victoria...

 in the 1940 election

Canadian federal election, 1940

The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...

 and 1945 election

Canadian federal election, 1945

The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...

. In 1956, he was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

, representing the electoral district of Cape Breton North

Cape Breton North

Cape Breton North is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....

.

Summoned to the Senate of Canada in 1960 representing the senatorial division of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, a Progressive Conservative

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....

, he was twice Opposition Whip in the Senate (1963-1979 and 1980-1984) and was Government Whip in the Senate (1979-1980).

Macdonald died in North Sydney, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

 in 1997; at the time of his death, he was the last senator to serve in the senate past the age of 75, and one of the last senators appointed for life serving in the Senate (Orville Howard Phillips

Orville Howard Phillips

Orville Howard Phillips, was a Canadian dental surgeon, politician, and senator.Born in O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, the son of J.S. and Maude Phillips, he received his D.D.S. from Dalhousie University in 1952. He practiced dentistry for many years.In 1957, he was elected to the Canadian House...

 was the last senator with a lifetime appointment. He resigned in 1999).

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