Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-06-26
Sketch of His Career

Sir John Alexander Macdonald, &. C. B.,
K. c. B., D. c. L., LII. D., Premier of the
Government of the Dominion of Canada
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on June II,
1919. When he was about five years old his
parents emgrated to Canada and settled at
Kingston. Ontario. After a short residence
there the family moved to PictOu, a town
further west leaving John Alexander, then
in his teens at Kingston, to attend the Royal
Grammar School. There he received his ed
ucation. He was diligent at his studies, and
admitted to the bar at the age of twenty
one. He Immediately opened an office in
Kingston and followed his profession with
success for about five years before he began
to turn his attention to politics. He was lie
tanned in all the important cases brought in
to the courts in that part of the country.
Shortly after the Canadian rebellion he
successfully defended a band Of 800 rebels
who had attacked the Kingston garrison. 1t
was while practising in Kingston that h.
won the distinction of being the greatest
constitutional lawyer in Canada, a distinc-
ton which was his to the last. In 1S41 he
first entered politics, and in 1874 was elected
member of Parliament. For many years he
represented Kingston Conservative. He
appointed a member of the Executive
Council and Receiver-General in May, 1917,
and at the end of the same year he held tn :
Office of Commissioner Of Crown Lands. For
the next ten or fifteen years he was returned
to Parliament.
In July, 1865, Mr. Macdonald was APP
pointed Minister of Militia for the second
time, which office he held. together with that
of AttOrney-Gen OF Upper Canada un-
til the confederation of the Canadian prov
inces as the Dominion of Canada.
Mr.. Macdonald was chiefly instrumental in
bringing about confederation OF the prov
inces of British North America. He was
Chairman OF the Colonial Conference in
London England, 1861, when the British
North American act was paSset by the Eng
HOnSa OT (NODln1OlS n
Mr.. Macdonald was cailel upon to for
the first Government fOr the new Dominion,
and was sworn III Oy the English Privv
Council, AMI appointed Attoraay-G an era,
and Minister O justice OF Canada, an office
which he continued 10 hold until he AMI his
Ministry resigned on the Canadian Pacific
RAILWAY scandal in November, 1913
In 1871 Mr.. Macdonald was one of her
Majesty's joint high Commissioners and
Plenipotentiaries to at in connection with
the Commissioners APPOINTED by the Presi-
dent of the United stats for the settlement
of the Alabama claims. resulting in the
treaty of Washington III May 1871.
In 1860 Mr.. Macdonald received the hon
Orary degree of D. {. l. from the University
OF Oxford, and IN 1867 he was made K. G.
j. In 1872 he made a knight of the
Grand Cross of the ROYAL Order of Isabel
the Catholic of Spain. One OF his latest
honors was that of q. & r. This title de-
scends TO his SON
Sir John MacGonald's legislative record is
long and mostly creditabIe
He has often been called Canadas greatest
politician and he doubtless merited the
name. He was bold. ambitious, and auda-
clous in his policy. He was a born wire pull -
and was unmatched as an eIectioneerng
agent. He was not overscrupulous as TO the
methods ne adopted so long as they led TO
victory. His career was dominated by q
desire to give Canada an independent policy
and to promote the imperial interests OF
Great and Greater Britain. 50 long as the
pursuit of these objects did not jeopardize
his chances of success, for his main object
was to always remain in office
Sl~ John was ready in public speech. Hs
had an open, cordial manner. wide range
of information, and an amazing memory for
faces. No one ever accused him Of economy
In his private or pubic life.
Sir John lived at EarnscEfe, in Ottawa,
where his short, bent form and DisraeIi-like
face were well known to every enc.