Famous Scots
- Sir John A Macdonald (1815-1891)
Born in George Street, Glasgow, John Macdonald emigrated with his family to Ontario from Glasgow at the age of five. His father had been a crofter in Dornoch until he was evicted as part of the Clearances.
Macdonald trained as a lawyer and set up a practice which became one of the most successful in Canada. In 1844 he was elected to the House of Assembly, which administered "Upper" and "Lower" Canada (Ontario and Quebec). His energetic style won him a place in the cabinet within three years and in 1854 he became attorney-general and in 1857 he became premier. Under his influence Canada changed greatly over the next few decades.
The Dominion of Canada was formed as a result of the British North America Act of 1867 and Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and North West Territories became part of the Dominion. He also pushed ahead the construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad (with many Scots participating in the syndicate which created it). Macdonald was Prime Minister of the new Dominion from 1867-1873 and 1878-1891.
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