Malcolm Cameron
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Cameron was a Canadian businessman and politician.
He was born at Trois-Rivières
in Lower Canada
in 1808 and grew up in Lanark County
in Upper Canada
. At the age of 15, he found work in the Montreal
area but later returned to Perth
to complete his schooling. In 1828, he became a merchant in the area. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Lanark as a moderate Reformer. The year before, he had set up a general store at Port Sarnia (later Sarnia
) and, in 1837, he moved there. In the same year, he served with Allan Napier MacNab during the Upper Canada Rebellion
. He also set up mills in the Port Sarnia area, became involved in transporting goods and established a business cutting and selling timber. Although he originally opposed Robert Baldwin
, he supported his government in 1842 and was given the post of inspector of revenue. He resigned in 1843 because he could not support the government bill that moved the capital to Montreal
.
After the union of Upper and Lower Canada, he continued to represent Lanark in the Legislative Assembly
until 1847. In that year, he was elected in Kent
and, in 1848, was chosen to be assistant commissioner of public works, resigning in 1849. Cameron began to align himself with the Clear Grits. He pressed for the abolition of the clergy reserves and pushed for reciprocity in trade with the United States
. In 1851, he was elected as an independent in Huron
. He also supported Arthur Rankin
in Kent against George Brown
in a bitter campaign, although Brown won easily. He was given a post in the government in 1852 and, in 1853, became appointed Postmaster General
. This also meant that he served on the Board of Railway Commissioners and he represented the government on the board of the Grand Trunk Railway
. In 1854, Cameron ran in both South Lanark and Lambton
, but was elected in neither.
He was elected to the 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
as an independent representing Lambton; he defeated the Reform candidate Hope Fleming Mackenzie
, the brother of Alexander Mackenzie
. In 1860, he was elected to the Legislative Council
for St. Clair division and Hope Mackenzie won the Lambton seat in a by-election.
In 1863, he was appointed Queen's printer with George-Paschal Desbarats, and served until 1869.
In 1874, he was elected to the 3rd Canadian Parliament
as a Liberal
candidate in the riding of Ontario South
. He died at Ottawa while in office in 1876.
Malcolm Colin Cameron
, who he is believed to have adopted, became a Member of Parliament for Huron South
and Huron West
.
Cameron Township in Quebec was named in his honour (since 1980 part of Bouchette, Quebec
).
He was born at Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
in 1808 and grew up in Lanark County
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. At the age of 15, he found work in the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
area but later returned to Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
to complete his schooling. In 1828, he became a merchant in the area. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
representing Lanark as a moderate Reformer. The year before, he had set up a general store at Port Sarnia (later Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
) and, in 1837, he moved there. In the same year, he served with Allan Napier MacNab during the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
. He also set up mills in the Port Sarnia area, became involved in transporting goods and established a business cutting and selling timber. Although he originally opposed Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin was born at York . He, along with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in Canada, regarded by some as the first truly Canadian government....
, he supported his government in 1842 and was given the post of inspector of revenue. He resigned in 1843 because he could not support the government bill that moved the capital to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
After the union of Upper and Lower Canada, he continued to represent Lanark in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
until 1847. In that year, he was elected in Kent
Kent County, Ontario
Kent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
and, in 1848, was chosen to be assistant commissioner of public works, resigning in 1849. Cameron began to align himself with the Clear Grits. He pressed for the abolition of the clergy reserves and pushed for reciprocity in trade with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1851, he was elected as an independent in Huron
Huron County, Ontario
Huron County is a census division and county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province...
. He also supported Arthur Rankin
Arthur Rankin
Arthur Rankin was a surveyor, entrepreneur and political figure in Canada West.He was born in Montreal in 1816, the son of Irish immigrants. He ran away from home and became a cabin boy. In 1835, he returned to Canada, then qualified as a surveyor and moved to the Windsor area. In 1837, he...
in Kent against George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
in a bitter campaign, although Brown won easily. He was given a post in the government in 1852 and, in 1853, became appointed Postmaster General
Postmaster General of Canada
The Postmaster General of Canada was the Canadian cabinet minister responsible for the Post Office Department . In 1851, management of the post office was transferred from Britain to the provincial governments of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward...
. This also meant that he served on the Board of Railway Commissioners and he represented the government on the board of the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
. In 1854, Cameron ran in both South Lanark and Lambton
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
, but was elected in neither.
He was elected to the 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1858 to June 1861. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in December 1857. Sessions were held in Toronto in 1858 and then in Quebec City from 1859...
as an independent representing Lambton; he defeated the Reform candidate Hope Fleming Mackenzie
Hope Fleming Mackenzie
Hope Fleming Mackenzie was a Scottish-born cabinet-maker, shipbuilder and political figure in Canada West. He represented Lambton from 1860 to 1861 and North Oxford from 1863 to 1866 in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada as a Reformer.He was born in Logierait, Perthshire, the son...
, the brother of Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie, PC , a building contractor and newspaper editor, was the second Prime Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.-Biography:...
. In 1860, he was elected to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
for St. Clair division and Hope Mackenzie won the Lambton seat in a by-election.
In 1863, he was appointed Queen's printer with George-Paschal Desbarats, and served until 1869.
In 1874, he was elected to the 3rd Canadian Parliament
3rd Canadian Parliament
The 3rd Canadian Parliament was in session from March 26, 1874 until August 17, 1878. The membership was set by the 1874 federal election on January 22, 1874, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1878 election.It was controlled by a...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate in the riding of Ontario South
Ontario South
Ontario South was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1925. It was located in the province of Ontario...
. He died at Ottawa while in office in 1876.
Malcolm Colin Cameron
Malcolm Colin Cameron
Malcolm Colin Cameron was a businessman and lawyer in Ontario. He represented Huron South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1875 and from 1878 to 1882 and Huron West from 1882 to 1887, 1891 to 1892 and 1896 to 1898.He was born in Perth in Upper Canada in 1831. He was the son, probably...
, who he is believed to have adopted, became a Member of Parliament for Huron South
Huron South
Huron South was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867 which divided the County of Huron into two ridings: Huron North and Huron South.In 1872, the County of...
and Huron West
Huron West
Huron West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1917. It was located in the province of Ontario...
.
Cameron Township in Quebec was named in his honour (since 1980 part of Bouchette, Quebec
Bouchette, Quebec
Bouchette is a municipality in the geographic centre of the La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, north of Gatineau. Its territory is along both shores of the Gatineau River and the western shores of Thirty-One Mile Lake....
).