About Alexander Mackenzie:
Alexander Mackenzie was the first Liberal prime minister of Canada. A severe economic depression was a major problem for Alexander Mackenzie, but his government implemented some major reforms, including:
- the secret ballot
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Office of Auditor General
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Department of Militia and Defence
Prime Minister of Canada:
1873-78
Birth:
January 28, 1822 in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland. Alexander Mackenzie came to Canada in 1842, living first in Kingston and then in Sarnia, Ontario.
Death:
April 17, 1892 in Toronto, Ontario
Professions:
- Stonemason
- Contractor
- Editor of the "Lambton Shield" in Lambton, Ontario
- Major, 27th Lambton Battalion Volunteer Infantry 1866-74
Political Affiliation:
- Reform
- Liberal
Provincial Ridings (Electoral Districts):
- Lambton (Province of Canada) - 1861-67
- Middlesex West (Legislative Assembly of Ontario) - 1871-72
Federal Ridings (Electoral Districts):
- Lambton - 1867-82
- York East - 1882-92
Political Career of Alexander Mackenzie:
- Alexander Mackenzie was first elected as a member of the Reform Party - a forerunner of the Liberal Party - to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1861.
- He was elected as a Liberal to the House of Commons in 1867.
- Alexander Mackenzie was also elected and sat in the Ontario Legislative Assembly from 1871-72, when dual representation was abolished.
- He was elected Leader of the federal Liberal Party and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada in 1873.
- Alexander Mackenzie also served as Minister of Public Works.
- The Liberals were defeated by Sir John A. Macdonald and the Conservatives in 1878.
- Alexander Mackenzie was Leader of the Opposition from 1878 to 1880.
- In 1880 Alexander Mackenzie resigned as leader of the Liberal Party.
- He remained a member of parliament until he died in 1892.
