Sir John A. Macdonald

Who is Sir John A. Macdonald?

John Alexander Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated as a boy to Kingston, Upper Canada (now Ontario), where he trained and practised as a lawyer. A leading figure in the negotiations that produced Canadian Confederation in 1867, he became the country's first Prime Minister, serving from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 until his death in 1891. His governments oversaw the westward expansion of Canada, the entry of new provinces, and the completion of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway. His National Policy promoted protective tariffs and railway building. His legacy is deeply contested: he is credited as a principal architect of the Canadian state, but is also condemned for policies toward Indigenous peoples, including the expansion of the residential school system and actions during famine on the Prairies.

Sources: Richard Gwyn, 'John A.: The Man Who Made Us' (2007) and 'Nation Maker' (2011) · Donald Creighton, 'John A. Macdonald' two-volume biography (1952, 1955) · Dictionary of Canadian Biography, entry 'Macdonald, Sir John Alexander'