Alexander Mackenzie (politician)

Alexander Mackenzie
Monochrome photograph of Alexander Mackenzie sitting in a chair.
Mackenzie in 1878
2nd Prime Minister of Canada
In office
November 7, 1873 – October 8, 1878
MonarchVictoria
Governor GeneralThe Earl of Dufferin
Preceded byJohn A. Macdonald
Succeeded byJohn A. Macdonald
Leader of the Liberal Party
In office
March 6, 1873 – May 4, 1880
Preceded byEdward Blake
Succeeded byEdward Blake
Member of the House of Commons of Canada
In office
September 20, 1867 – April 17, 1892
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Personal details
Born(1822-01-28)January 28, 1822
Logierait, Scotland
DiedApril 17, 1892(1892-04-17) (aged 70)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeLakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
Spouses
Helen Neil
(m. 1845; died 1852)
(m. 1853)
[1]
Children3
Signature
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceCanadian militia
Years of service1866–1874
RankMajor
Unit27th (Lambton) Battalion of Infantry
Battles/warsFenian Raids

Alexander Mackenzie PC (January 28, 1822 – April 17, 1892) was a Canadian politician who served as the second prime minister of Canada, in office from 1873 to 1878.

Mackenzie was born in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland. He left school at the age of 13, following his father's death, to help his widowed mother, and trained as a stonemason. Mackenzie immigrated to the Province of Canada when he was 19, settling in what became Ontario. His masonry business prospered, allowing him to pursue other interests – such as the editorship of a pro-Reformist newspaper called the Lambton Shield.[2] Mackenzie was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1862, as a supporter of George Brown.

In 1867, Mackenzie was elected to the new House of Commons of Canada for the Liberal Party. He became leader of the party (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 consistent democratic principles.

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 (MP) until his death, due to a stroke.


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