View source for Sir John A. Macdonald

{{Infobox officeholder
| name        = Sir John A. Macdonald
| image       = John_A_Macdonald_1875.jpg
| caption     = Sir John A. Macdonald in 1875
| order       = 1st Prime Minister of Canada
| term_start  = July 1, 1867
| term_end    = November 5, 1873
| monarch     = Queen Victoria
| governor_general = The Viscount Monck; The Earl of Dufferin
| predecessor = Office established
| successor   = Alexander Mackenzie
| term_start2 = October 17, 1878
| term_end2   = June 6, 1891
| monarch2    = Queen Victoria
| governor_general2 = The Marquess of Lorne; The Marquess of Lansdowne; Lord Stanley of Preston
| predecessor2= Alexander Mackenzie
| successor2  = John Abbott
| birth_date  = January 11, 1815
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| death_date  = June 6, 1891
| death_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| restingplace= Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston
| party       = Conservative
}}

'''Sir John Alexander Macdonald''' (January 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first [[Prime Minister of Canada]], serving from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891. He is regarded as one of the leading architects of Canadian Confederation and played a central role in uniting the provinces into one dominion under the British Crown.

== Early life and education ==
Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and immigrated with his family to Kingston, Upper Canada, in 1820. He trained as a lawyer and established a successful legal practice, quickly rising in public prominence.

== Political career ==
Before Confederation, Macdonald served in the Province of Canada’s legislature, gaining a reputation as a skilled negotiator and coalition builder. He was instrumental in forging alliances between English- and French-speaking politicians.

== Prime Ministership ==
As the first Prime Minister of Canada, Macdonald oversaw:
* The creation of the [[Canadian Confederation]] (1867).
* Expansion westward and the admission of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island into Confederation.
* The establishment of the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], a project central to national unity.
* Policies toward Indigenous peoples that remain controversial, including the Indian Act and the use of residential schools.

His government fell in 1873 due to the Pacific Scandal, but he returned to power in 1878 and governed until his death in 1891. He promoted the "National Policy," emphasizing protective tariffs and railway expansion.

== Later life and death ==
Macdonald remained in office until his death on June 6, 1891. He is buried at Cataraqui Cemetery in Kingston. His legacy is debated: celebrated as a founder of Canada, but also criticized for policies that marginalized Indigenous peoples and minorities.

== Legacy ==
Macdonald’s vision of a united Canada laid the foundation for the modern nation-state. However, his role in Indigenous policy and assimilation efforts has led to significant reevaluations of his legacy in contemporary Canada.

== See also ==
* [[Prime Minister of Canada]]
* [[Canadian Confederation]]
* [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]
* [[Alexander Mackenzie]]

== FAQs ==
'''Q: When did John A. Macdonald become Canada’s first Prime Minister?'''  
A: On July 1, 1867, the day of Confederation.

'''Q: What was Macdonald’s major achievement?'''  
A: He was a principal architect of Confederation and promoted the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

'''Q: Why is his legacy controversial?'''  
A: His government’s policies toward Indigenous peoples, including the Indian Act and residential schools, have been widely criticized.

== References ==
* [https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=5663 Parliament of Canada – Sir John A. Macdonald]  
* [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald The Canadian Encyclopedia – Sir John A. Macdonald]  
* [https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/politics-government/prime-ministers/macdonald/Pages/biography.aspx Library and Archives Canada – Biography of Sir John A. Macdonald]