Andrew Archibald Macdonald was born into a wealthy and respected Highland Catholic family, Macdonald's grandfather had immigrated to Prince Edward Island in 1806. Born February 14, 1829, Andrew was, by the age of 15, forced to go to work in a store in Georgetown owned by a cousin. With the cousin's death he took over the business and soon had developed an extensive and diverse business. He owned some 20 cargo vessels, shipping diverse products to New England, Newfoundland, and Great Britain. Meanwhile he imported goods for sale in his stores.
Macdonald soon entered politics and in 1854 captured a seat in the provincial assembly for Georgetown and Royalty. Winning and losing elections in the ensuing years, in 1864 he emerged as opposition leader in the Provincial Legislative Council. When, in 1867, liberals regained office, Macdonald was named to the Executive Council on 2 April 1867, and became government leader in the Legislative Council.
It was in September of 1864 that the first
Conference on Canadian Confederation was held. Ultimately there were three conferences held, in Charlottetown, Québec and London. As leader of the opposition in the Provincial Legislative Council, he was named one of the five Island delegates to the Charlottetown conference. He also attended the second conference, held in Québec. It is for this that MacDonald is best remembered, making him one of Canada's 36
Fathers of Confederation.
Though he was born in Brudenell Point, P.E.I. and died in Ottawa, MacDonald spent much of his working life in Georgetown and is considered by the town to be one of its own. As a result a plaque has been installed in his honour on the western edge of A.A. MacDonald Memorial Gardens to the south of the Kings County Courthouse along Kent Street. The gardens, of course, were also created in his honour. The text from that plaque follows.
The Honorable Andrew Archibald (A.A.) Macdonald
was born February 14, 1829 in Three Rivers.
He carried on the family business in Georgetown
until called to serve In the Legislature.
He was in Ottawa, a member of the Senate, when
at age 83 he died, March 21, 1912.
Georgetown's Father of Confederation,
the Honorable A. A. Macdonald was present at
both the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences of
1864, from which Canada was founded.
A biography of A.A. Macdonald can be found at Biographi Canada.