Sir Donald Macmaster, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Donald Macmaster, 1st Baronet KC
(September 3, 1846 – March 3, 1922) was a Canadian
lawyer
and a politician in both Canada and the United Kingdom
.
Macmaster was born into a family of Scottish
descent in Williamstown, Glengarry County
, Canada West. He studied law at McGill University
, was called to the Quebec
bar
in 1871, and set up practice in Montreal
. Macmaster served as Crown Prosecutor for many cases. He was called to the Ontario
bar and appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1882.
He represented Glengarry
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1879 to 1882 and in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Conservative
member from 1883 to 1887, when he lost his seat.
In 1905, Macmaster emigrated to England
and settled in London
, intending to practise in Privy Council
cases, in which he already had considerable experience. In 1910 he was elected to the House of Commons
as Conservative
member for the Chertsey division of Surrey
, holding the seat until his death. He was created a Baronet
on 26 January 1921 in the 1921 New Year Honours.
In 1880, he married Janet Macdonald, who died less than three years later. In 1890 he married the American
Ella Virginia DeFord. Their only son, Donald, was killed in action at the Battle of Loos
while commanding a company
of the Cameron Highlanders
on 25 September 1915. Macmaster never recovered from his son's death.
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...
(September 3, 1846 – March 3, 1922) 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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a politician in both Canada and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Macmaster was born into a family of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
descent in Williamstown, Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
, Canada West. He studied law at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, was called to the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
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 1871, and set up practice in 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...
. Macmaster served as Crown Prosecutor for many cases. He was called to the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
bar and appointed 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...
in 1882.
He represented Glengarry
Glengarry (electoral district)
Glengarry was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917, and from 1925 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1879 to 1882 and in 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...
as a Conservative
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...
member from 1883 to 1887, when he lost his seat.
In 1905, Macmaster emigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, intending to practise in Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
cases, in which he already had considerable experience. In 1910 he was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
member for the Chertsey division of Surrey
Chertsey (UK Parliament constituency)
Chertsey was a county constituency in Surrey which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, holding the seat until his death. He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 26 January 1921 in the 1921 New Year Honours.
In 1880, he married Janet Macdonald, who died less than three years later. In 1890 he married the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Ella Virginia DeFord. Their only son, Donald, was killed in action at the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
while commanding a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
of the Cameron Highlanders
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
on 25 September 1915. Macmaster never recovered from his son's death.