10 Interesting Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald

These following facts about Sir John A. Macdonald should properly open your mind up about how his life was. As a first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. Macdonald was one of dominant figure of Canadian Confederation. He had a political career which spanned almost half a century and served 19 years as Canadian Prime Minister. To get to know more information about him, here are the other facts about Sir John A. Macdonald you may like.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 1: Early Years

John Alexander Macdonald was the third of five children. After Hugh Macdonald’s business ventures left him in debt, the family emigrated to Kingston, in Upper Canada, in 1820, in 1820, where there were already a number of Macdonald relatives and connections.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 2: Early Career

Macdonald’s parents decided he should become a lawyer after leaving school. As Donald Creighton, who penned a two-volume biography of Macdonald in the 1950s wrote, “law was a broad, well-trodden path to comfort, influence, even to power”. It was also “the obvious choice for a boy who seemed as attracted to study as he was uninterested in trade.”

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 3: Legal Prominence

All Upper Canadians between 18 and 60 years of age were members of the Sedentary Militia, which was called into active duty during the Rebellions of 1837. Macdonald served as a private in the militia, patrolling the area around Kingston, but the town saw no real action and Macdonald was not called upon to fire on the enemy

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 4: Parliamentary Advancement

In February 1843, Macdonald announced his candidacy for the post of alderman in Kingston’s Fourth Ward. On 29 March 1843, Macdonald celebrated his first election victory, with 156 votes against 43 for his opponent, a Colonel Jackson.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 5: Nasty Comments

Experts said he was nuts for adoring his daughter because she had a disability. He ignored people’s nasty comments and greatly enjoyed spending time with his daughter.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 6: Colonial Leader

In July 1857, Macdonald departed for Britain to promote Canadian government projects. On his return to Canada, he was appointed premier in place of the retiring Taché, just in time to lead the Conservatives in a general election.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 7: Second-term Elecetion

In the run-up to the 1872 election, Macdonald had yet to formulate a railway policy, or to devise the loan guarantees that would be needed to secure the construction. During the previous year, Macdonald had met with potential railway financiers such as Hugh Allan and considerable financial discussion took place

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 8: Legacy and Tribute

Macdonald served just under 19 years as Prime Minister, a length of service only surpassed by William Lyon Mackenzie King. Unlike his American counterpart, George Washington, no cities or political subdivisions are named for Macdonald, nor are there any massive monuments.

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 9: Birthday

Although 10 January is the official date recorded in the General Register Office in Edinburgh, 11 January is the day Macdonald and those who commemorate him have celebrated his birthday

Facts about Sir John A. Macdonald 10: CPR Scandal

On the ledger’s other side, he was responsible for the CPR scandal, the execution of Louis Riel, and for the head tax on Chinese workers. He’s thus not easy to scan. His private life was mostly barren. Yet few other Canadian leaders had the same capacity to inspire love.

Through his story of life, those following facts about Sir John A. Macdonald should be very inspiring for you. Though he has passed so much problems, he was doing great until he died. Hope you found these Sir John A. Macdonald facts interesting and useful.