Sir John Alexander Macdonald

Sir John A. Macdonald was one of Canada's founding fathers. He is most remembered as being Canada's first Prime Minister, running the government from July 1, 1867 until November 5, 1873. Macdonald would become Prime Minister once again on October 17, 1878 and would stay in this position until June 6,1891. While he was leader of the country he faced his own share of political obstacles, including Confederation, the Metis rebellion and threats of an American he is among the greatest leaders Canada has ever seen and played a significant part in the forming of Canada as a country.

John Alexander Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 11, 1815. His family immigrated to Canada (Kingston, Ontario) in 1820, Macdonald was five years old at the time. In 1829 Macdonald ended his schooling, his parents could not afford to send him to university. Macdonald would later say that if he had went to university he would have ended up in literature, not politics. (Waite, John, 7-10)

In 1830 Upper Canada had no law schools, at that time if you wanted to be a lawyer you would learn what you needed to, by becoming a lawyer's apprentice. That is what Macdonald did, he became the apprentice of a lawyer named George Mackenzie. For four years Macdonald did on-the-job training until 1834 when Mackenzie died. At this time he returned to Kingston and opened his own law office, and a year later he was admitted to the bar. (Swainson, 16-18)

In 1842 Macdonald took a break from his responsibilities. He traveled to Scotland to visit his relatives, this would be a trip that would change his life forever. It was this time in Scotland that Macdonald met his cousin Isabella Clark, Macdonald?s future wife. The two got along really...

... middle of paper ...

...could not take it. The campaign was too much for him to handle. On May 29, 1891 Macdonald had a stroke and would be at death?s door until he passed away on June 6th in Ottawa. He would be buried in Kingston, Ontario. After forty-six years in of a difficult political career Macdonald was able to stay true to the policy he told the electors in 1844. "A British subject I was born, a British subject I will die."

When Macdonald died, Canada lost one of its greatest leaders. Without his achievements Canada may never have become a country. Wilfrid Laurier portrayed the affects of Macdonald's death perfectly in a speech to the Parliament.

In fact the place of Sir John A. Macdonald in this country was so large & so absorbing that it is almost impossible to conceive that the politics of this country, will continue without him. His loss overwhelms us. (Swainson, 149)