Happy Birthday Sir John A!

January 11 marks the birthday of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John Alexander Macdonald.  He was born in Scotland, raised in Kingston, and made political waves in Ottawa, and throughout the Dominion of Canada.  While Prime Minister, he saw the country grow both in population and in geography.  He was not without scandal, however he remains the second longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history, second only to William Lyon Mackenzie King.

In honour of his 199th birthday, raise a glass (of whatever your drink of choice might be), to one of our Fathers of Confederation!  Happy Birthday Sir John A!

Sir John Alexander Macdonald, c. 1868, from Library and Archives Canada

Macdonald’s gravesite, Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston. The simple stone cross marker for Sir John A. A historical plaque and Canadian flag have been placed in his honour.

A960.19 .4 – Letter in the Oshawa Community Archives Collection, from Macdonald to Thomas N. Gibbs, MP from Oshawa.

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