William McDonald (Canadian politician)

William McDonald (October 7, 1837 – July 4, 1916) was a Canadian politician.

The Hon.
William McDonald
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Cape Breton
In office
1872–1884
Serving with
Newton LeGayet Mackay (1872-1878)
Hugh McLeod (1878-1879)
William Mackenzie McLeod (1879-1882)
Murray Dodd (1882-1884)
Preceded byJames Charles McKeagney
Succeeded byHector Francis McDougall
Senator for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
In office
1884–1916
Appointed byJohn A. Macdonald
Personal details
Born(1837-10-07)October 7, 1837
Inverness, Nova Scotia
DiedJuly 4, 1916(1916-07-04) (aged 78)
Political partyConservative

Born at the Settlement of River Deny's Road, Inverness, Nova Scotia, the son of Mary McDonald and Allan McDonald, who emigrated from South Uist, Scotland, McDonald was educated at St. Francois Xavier College, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

A merchant, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for Cape Breton in the 1872 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1874, 1878, and 1882. In 1884, he was called to the Senate on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He served for almost 44 years as a member of parliament and senator until his death in 1916.[1]

The intersection of Main, Union and Commercial streets in downtown Glace Bay is named "Senator's Corner" in his honour.[2]

Electoral record

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1878 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 2,056  Y
Conservative William McDonald 2,051  Y
Liberal Newton LeGayet Mackay 1,153
Unknown Walter Young 696
1874 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative William McDonald 1,251  Y
Liberal Newton LeGayet Mackay 1,136  Y
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 1,108
Source: Canadian Elections Database[3]


1872 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Newton LeGayet MacKay 1,240  Y
Conservative William McDonald 1,038  Y
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 932
Liberal–Conservative James McKeagney 882
Source: Canadian Elections Database[4]

References

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  1. ^ Personnel of the Senate and House of Commons, eighth Parliament of Canada, elected June 23, 1896. Montreal: Lovell. 1898. pp. 83. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  2. ^ Pat MacAdam, ["Senator Billy: a land-owning legend http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NS-CAPE-BRETON/2005-08/1125189828] Cape Breton Post, August 25, 2005
  3. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1874 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
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