Background
He was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1842, the son of Donald McIsaac and Catherine McGillivray, and studied at Saint Francis Xavier College.
He was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1842, the son of Donald McIsaac and Catherine McGillivray, and studied at Saint Francis Xavier College.
He represented Antigonish in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1873 to 1885. McIsaac served as inspector of schools for Antigonish County. He articled in law with William Joseph Croke and Daniel MacDonald and was called to the bar in 1871.
He practised law in Antigonish.
McIsaac was elected to the House of Commons in an 1873 by-election held after Hugh McDonald was named to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. He resigned from his seat in 1885 to accept an appointment as judge in the county court.
He died in Antigonish while still a judge at the age of 60.