Kingston’s favourite son ...
Macdonald’s early years ... Childhood home near Picton Macdonald’s mother Helen >
A busy young man ... Age 10 – attends school in Kingston Age 15 – leaves school – works for lawyer Age 17 – operates law branch for lawyer in Napanee Age 20 – sets up practice in Kingston Age 21 – officially becomes a lawyer Age 27 – gets married; sets up law partnership; runs for Town Council Age 28 – runs for MP for Province of Canada
Macdonald as a young lawyer and politician ...
Macdonald was on Kingston Council when the Town Hall was built.
Medallion from building of City Hall
Politician on the move ... 1843 – elected to Kingston Town Council 1844 – elected to Parliament of Province of Canada 1844 – parliament moves from Kingston to Montreal 1857 – Prime Minister of Province of Canada; first wife dies 1867 – marries for second time; knighted; becomes Prime Minister of Canada
Local support is not always strong, but there’s always Eliza ... Macdonald’s strongest supporter is Eliza Grimason: “... there’s not a man like him in the livin’ earth…” Her hotel / tavern on Princess St. is the unofficial headquarters for his local campaigns.
The last hurrah ... Macdonald’s final campaign, in 1891, is based on Canada’s continuing ties to Great Britain. He declares: “A British subject I was born – a British subject I will die”.
Kingston mourns ... City Hall, June, 1891
Statue of Sir John A Macdonald in City Park, Kingston.