FIRST - Minister of the Dominion of Canada
N 43° 15.346 W 079° 52.000
17T E 591992 N 4789841
Statue of Sir John A. MacDonald is located at the far Eastern end of Gore Park, in downtown Hamilton Ontario.
Waymark Code: WMCJG
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 05/14/2006
Views: 123
Prime Minister has been described as primus inter pares: Latin for "first among equals." This concept defines not only the prime minister's relationship with Cabinet, but also, in a sense, his or her relationship with the public in our modern democratic society.
Sir John A. MacDonald is the First in a long line of Prime Ministers of Canada, dating back to a time when it was known as The Dominion of Canada. And he apparently was quite the leader.
Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1815 and immigrated to Upper Canada with his parents when he was five. He articled with a Kingston lawyer at fifteen years of age and opened his own practice at nineteen.
He developed a reputation for being a great trial lawyer and represented both of Kingston's banks.
His first year in politics was in 1843 when he served as Kingston's Alderman. The following year he was elected as Conservative representative for Kingston, in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He was later appointed attorney-general and served as co-premier from 1856 to 1862.
John A believed in joining the eastern provinces into a Confederation. Initially the provinces balked for their own personal reasons but after the American Civil War, the Fenian Raids of 1866 and concerns about American foreign policy, they realized defence of the British North American colonies would be easier as a group. Macdonald drafted the British North America Act and was eventually knighted for his part in confederation. He had helped unite the provinces, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as the Dominion of Canada, July 1st, 1867.
Sir John A. Macdonald was appointed the first prime minister of this new country, he was elected in the the position the following month.
There is a full description of his life at the website provided below.
Hope you enjoy the Waymark visit!
The Blue Quasar
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.