Alexander Mackenzie

Background

On January 28, 1822, Alexander Mackenzie was born near Dunkeld. His parents were poor.

Education

Young Mackenzie left school to apprentice himself to a stone mason.

Career

At the age of 20 Mackenzie emigrated to Canada, where he soon found work in his trade at Kingston, Upper Canada. Prospering, Mackenzie moved to Sarnia, further west, as builder and contractor. He was also a concerned citizen, and in 1852 he became the editor of the Lambton Shield, a tiny newspaper that nonetheless served to give him access to the world of politics. In 1861 he ran successfully for the Assembly as a Reformer, and in 1867 he was elected to the first Parliament of Canada, where he became the leader of the opposition to the government of Sir John Alexander Macdonald. For a time in 1871/1872 he was treasurer of Ontario, but in 1872 he determined to devote his time to federal politics.

The Macdonald government was pressing ahead with plans for a transcontinental railroad but had unfortunately become too close in its relations with financiers and contractors. The resulting "Pacific scandal" drove the government from office in disgrace, and Mackenzie became prime minister on Nov. 7, 1873. The Mackenzie administration had some able men in it, but the Liberals had bad luck in taking power at the onset of a long business depression. Mackenzie's only remedy was to trim expenses to the bone and to halt the construction of the railway. The depression continued unabated.

There were some real successes, however. As a convinced democrat, Mackenzie extended the right to vote and introduced the secret ballot. A Supreme Court was established, the Royal Military College of Canada was founded, and the nation was pushed toward independence after Mackenzie and his attorney general, Edward Blake, trimmed the powers of the governor general to interfere in affairs of state.

For all these accomplishments, however, the nation was unhappy, and when the Conservatives began to advocate a protective tariff to encourage the development of Canadian industry, they found ready audiences. Mackenzie, as a free-trade Liberal, regarded the tariff as an abomination, but not enough of the electorate agreed with him and the Liberals were defeated in 1878. For 2 years more the dour Scot led the Liberals. He remained in Parliament until his death on April 17, 1892, in Toronto.

Achievements

• Alexander Mackenzie was head of the Liberal party and the first Liberal prime minister of Canada.
  
  The following are named in honour of Alexander Mackenzie:
  
  The Mackenzie Mountain Range in the Yukon & Northwest Territories.
  
  The Mackenzie building, and the use of the Mackenzie tartan by the bands at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. 'Alexander Mackenzie', the Royal Military College of Canada March for bagpipes, was composed in his honour by Pipe Major Don M. Carrigan, who was the College Pipe Major 1973 to 1985.
  
  Mackenzie Hall in Windsor, Ontario.
  
  Alexander Mackenzie Scholarships in Economics and Political Science at McGill University and University of Toronto.
  
  Alexander MacKenzie Park in Sarnia, Ontario.
  
  Alexander Mackenzie High School in Sarnia, Ontario.
  
  Alexander Mackenzie Housing Co-Operative Inc. in Sarnia, Ontario.
  
  Mackenzie Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario.
  
  Mackenzie Tower, West Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario
  
  A monument is dedicated to his tomb in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario
  
  "Honourable Alexander Mackenzie" (1964) by Lawren Harris, head of the Department of Fine Arts, Mount Allison University now hangs in the Mackenzie Building, Royal Military College of Canada.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Political Points and Pencillings: Being Selections From Various Addresses Delivered by Hon. Alex, Mackenzie (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Political Points and Pencillings: Being Sele...)

  • Workingmen's demonstration at Toronto, Thursday, May 30th, 1878 speech of Hon. Mr. Mackenzie. Talbot collection of British pamphlets

    (This book, "Workingmen's demonstration at Toronto, Thursd...)

  • Address of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie to the Toronto Workingmen on the "National Policy" (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Address of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie to t...)

  • The life and speeches of Hon. George Brown (Volume 2)

Politics

Mackenzie was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1861, as a supporter of George Brown.

In 1867, Mackenzie was elected to the new Canadian House of Commons for the Liberal Party. He became leader of the party (and thus Leader of the Opposition) in mid-1873, and a few months later succeeded John A. Macdonald as prime minister, following Macdonald's resignation in the aftermath of the Pacific Scandal. Mackenzie and the Liberals won a clear majority at the 1874 election. He was popular among the general public for his humble background and apparent democratic tendencies.

As prime minister, Mackenzie continued the nation-building programme that had been begun by his predecessor. His government established the Supreme Court of Canada and Royal Military College of Canada, and created the District of Keewatin to better administer Canada's newly acquired western territories. However, it made little progress on the transcontinental railway, and struggled to deal with the aftermath of the Panic of 1873. At the 1878 election, Mackenzie's government suffered a landslide defeat. He remained leader of the Liberal Party for another two years, and continued on as a member of parliament until his death.

Connections

Mackenzie married Helen Neil (1826–52) in 1845 and with her had three children, with only one girl, Mary, surviving infancy. He and Helen moved to Sarnia, Ontario (known as Canada West) in 1847 and Mary was born in 1848. They were soon joined from Scotland by the rest of Mackenzie's brothers and his mother. Helen died in 1852, finally succumbing to the effects of excessive doses of mercury-based calomel used to treat a fever while in Kingston. In 1853, he married Jane Sym (1825–93).

Father:

Alexander Mackenzie Sr.

Mother:

Mary Stewart (Fleming)

Spouse:

Helen Neil

(1826–52)

Spouse:

Jane Mackenzie

(née Sym; March 22, 1825 – March 30, 1893)

Daughter:

Mary

References

• The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie: His Life and Times
• The Canadian Portrait Gallery
• Getting Into Parliament and After
• Prime Ministers: Ranking Canada's Leaders
• Builders of Canada, from Cartier to Laurier (Classic Reprint)