William McDonald (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)
PartyConservative

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

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

1878 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 2,056 34.52 Y
Conservative William McDonald 2,051 34.44 Y
Liberal Newton LeGayet Mackay 1,153 19.36
Unknown Walter Young 696 11.69
Total valid votes 5,956
Source: Library of Parliament[3][4][5]
1874 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative William McDonald 1,251 35.79 Y
Liberal Newton LeGayet Mackay 1,136 32.50 Y
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 1,108 31.70
Total valid votes 3,495
Source: Library of Parliament[6][7][8]
1872 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Newton LeGayet Mackay 1,240 30.30 Y
Conservative William McDonald 1,038 25.37 Y
Liberal–Conservative Hugh McLeod 932 22.78
Liberal–Conservative James Charles McKeagney 882 21.55
Total valid votes 4,092
Source: Library of Parliament[9][10]

References

  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. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (1878)". lop.parl.ca.
  4. ^ Pope, Richard (1879). Return on the Fourth General Election for the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  5. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1878 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  6. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (1874)". lop.parl.ca.
  7. ^ Pope, Richard (1874). Return on the Third General Election for the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  8. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1874 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  9. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (1872)". lop.parl.ca.
  10. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.