Murdoch MacPherson
Encyclopedia
Murdoch Alexander MacPherson, Q.C. (1891–1966) was a Canadian
politician
. Universally referred to as "M.A. MacPherson", he was Attorney-General of Saskatchewan
under Conservative
Premier
James T.M. Anderson from 1929 to 1932.
Born at MacPherson House on Cape Breton Island
, MacPherson attended law school at Dalhousie University
, Halifax, Nova Scotia
. He served in World War I
and commanded a company of the 10th Battalion at Battle of Vimy Ridge
where he came out unscathed. He was wounded by shellfire, however, at Arleux, near Arras
a few days later. MacPherson Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan
was later named in his honour, and is an official memorial of the Canadian Department of National Defence. After the war he practiced law in Saskatchewan and eventually became a Queen's Counsel
(Q.C.).
MacPherson was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislative assembly
in 1924, and remained a member of the Legislative Assembly until his defeat in the 1934 provincial election
that wiped out the Conservative Party. He was called to Ottawa
late in the term of the R.B. Bennett government to assist in creating the Farm Credit Corporation
. During this time, he headed a Royal Commission: the MacPherson Commission.
In 1938 and again in 1942, he was a candidate at the federal Conservative leadership conventions
, coming in second place on both occasions.
In May 1961, he received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Saskatchewan
.
One of his three sons, Murdoch Alexander MacPherson Jnr. born in 1916, was a pillar of the local Progressive Conservative Party and of the non-concurring First Presbyterian congregation. He served as a justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench from 1961 to 1981; during this time, he sat on the custody case of Colin Thatcher
.
M.A.'s second son, Ian, served in the Indian Army during the Second World War and after being promoted to the rank of acting Lieutenant-Colonel, was killed in action near Mawlu in Burma in April 1944. He is memorialized in Michael Calvert's book "Prisoners of Hope."
Another son, Donald K. MacPherson (always referred to and addressed as "D.K. MacPherson"), was a successful Saskatchewan labour lawyer and later Chief Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench. D.K.'s son, Les MacPherson, is a columnist for the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix newspaper.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Universally referred to as "M.A. MacPherson", he was Attorney-General of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
under Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is a right-of-centre political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to 1942, it was known as the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. Members are commonly known as Tories....
Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
James T.M. Anderson from 1929 to 1932.
Born at MacPherson House on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, MacPherson attended law school at 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...
, Halifax, 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...
. He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and commanded a company of the 10th Battalion at Battle of Vimy Ridge
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
where he came out unscathed. He was wounded by shellfire, however, at Arleux, near Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
a few days later. MacPherson Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
was later named in his honour, and is an official memorial of the Canadian Department of National Defence. After the war he practiced law in Saskatchewan and eventually became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(Q.C.).
MacPherson was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
in 1924, and remained a member of the Legislative Assembly until his defeat in the 1934 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1934
The Saskatchewan general election of 1934 was the eighth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
that wiped out the Conservative Party. He was called to 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...
late in the term of the R.B. Bennett government to assist in creating the Farm Credit Corporation
Farm Credit Canada
Farm Credit Canada , or FCC, is Canada's largest agricultural term lender.This organization's purpose is to enhance rural Canada by providing specialized and personalized financial services to farming operations, including family farms...
. During this time, he headed a Royal Commission: the MacPherson Commission.
In 1938 and again in 1942, he was a candidate at the federal Conservative leadership conventions
Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
The first Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership election was held in 1927, when the party was called the Conservative Party. Prior to then the party's leader was chosen by caucus....
, coming in second place on both occasions.
In May 1961, he received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
.
One of his three sons, Murdoch Alexander MacPherson Jnr. born in 1916, was a pillar of the local Progressive Conservative Party and of the non-concurring First Presbyterian congregation. He served as a justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench from 1961 to 1981; during this time, he sat on the custody case of Colin Thatcher
Colin Thatcher
Wilbert Colin Thatcher is a Canadian former politician convicted for the murder of his ex-wife, JoAnn Wilson.-Political life:Colin Thatcher is the son of Wilbert Ross Thatcher, premier of Saskatchewan from 1964 to 1971...
.
M.A.'s second son, Ian, served in the Indian Army during the Second World War and after being promoted to the rank of acting Lieutenant-Colonel, was killed in action near Mawlu in Burma in April 1944. He is memorialized in Michael Calvert's book "Prisoners of Hope."
Another son, Donald K. MacPherson (always referred to and addressed as "D.K. MacPherson"), was a successful Saskatchewan labour lawyer and later Chief Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench. D.K.'s son, Les MacPherson, is a columnist for the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix newspaper.
External links
- Brief biography from MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP Lawyers - This firm is the present-day successor of the law firm that MacPherson founded in 1920 in Regina
- University of Saskatchewan archives - Information on MacPherson's honorary degree
- Notice on MacPherson Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan - From Canadian Dept. of National Defence, Department of History and Heritage