William J. P. MacMillan
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Parnell MacMillan (March 24, 1881 – December 7, 1957) was a physician and Prince Edward Island
politician.
Born in Clermont, MacMillan was a graduate of Prince of Wales College
and the McGill University
Faculty of Medicine.
After running a medical practice for several years, MacMillan entered politics in 1923
winning a seat in the provincial legislative assembly
as a Conservative. In 1932 he became the province's first minister of health and education. As minister he rebuilt Prince of Wales College
and the Provincial Mental Hospital which had both been destroyed by fire. He also secured a Carnegie Foundation
endowment that enabled the government to establish a provincial library system.
When James D. Stewart became ill, MacMillan served as acting premier and then became the 18th Premier
when Stewart died in 1933. MacMillan's government implemented relief programs and increasing government spending to help dampen the impact of the Great Depression
. Nevertheless, his government was swept from power in the 1935 election
which saw the Liberals capture every seat in the legislature. He returned to the legislature in 1939
and remained leader of the Conservative Party until the late 1940s and a member of the legislature until he lost his seat in the 1955 election
.
MacMillan was named the province's lieutenant governor
on November 22, 1957 but died before being sworn in.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
politician.
Born in Clermont, MacMillan was a graduate of Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
and the 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...
Faculty of Medicine.
After running a medical practice for several years, MacMillan entered politics in 1923
Prince Edward Island general election, 1923
The Prince Edward Island general election, 1923 was held in the Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island....
winning a seat in the provincial 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....
as a Conservative. In 1932 he became the province's first minister of health and education. As minister he rebuilt Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
and the Provincial Mental Hospital which had both been destroyed by fire. He also secured a Carnegie Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
endowment that enabled the government to establish a provincial library system.
When James D. Stewart became ill, MacMillan served as acting premier and then became the 18th Premier
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
when Stewart died in 1933. MacMillan's government implemented relief programs and increasing government spending to help dampen the impact of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Nevertheless, his government was swept from power in the 1935 election
Prince Edward Island general election, 1935
The Prince Edward Island general election, 1935 was held in the Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island. The Liberal party swept the board by winning every seat in every constituency. Liberal Leader Walter Maxfield Lea became Premier of Prince Edward Island for the second time...
which saw the Liberals capture every seat in the legislature. He returned to the legislature in 1939
Prince Edward Island general election, 1939
The Prince Edward Island general election, 1939 was held in the Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island...
and remained leader of the Conservative Party until the late 1940s and a member of the legislature until he lost his seat in the 1955 election
Prince Edward Island general election, 1955
The Prince Edward Island general election, 1955 was held in the Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island...
.
MacMillan was named the province's lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island is the viceregal representative in Prince Edward Island of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her...
on November 22, 1957 but died before being sworn in.