Alexander Mackenzie (politician)
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The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie PC |
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| 2nd Prime Minister of Canada | |
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In office November 7, 1873 – October 8, 1878 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor-General | The Earl of Dufferin |
| Preceded by | John A. Macdonald |
| Succeeded by | John A. Macdonald |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Lambton |
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In office September 20, 1867 – June 20, 1882 |
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| Preceded by | District created upon Confederation |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for York East |
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In office June 20, 1882 – April 17, 1892 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Boultbee |
| Succeeded by | William Findlay Maclean |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 28, 1822 Logierait, Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland, UK |
| Died | April 17, 1892 (aged 70) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Cause of death | Stroke from a fall by hitting his head |
| Resting place | Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Neil (m. 1845; her death 1852) Jane Sym (m. 1853; his death 1892) |
| Children | 3 |
| Religion |
Baptist (Previously Presbyterian) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
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| Service/branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1866–1874 |
| Rank |
-2014_-_Copy.svg){kind=small} Major
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Alexander Mackenzie (PC; January 28, 1822 – April 17, 1892), was a building contractor and newspaper editor, and was the second Prime Minister of Canada, from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.
Mackenzie was born in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Mary Stewart (Fleming) and Alexander Mackenzie. He was the third of ten children. At the age of 13, Mackenzie's father died, and he was forced to end his formal education in order to help support his family. At the age of 20 he apprenticed as a stonemason and immigrated to Canada in 1842 to seek a better life as well as to follow his sweetheart, Helen Neil. Shortly thereafter, he converted from Presbyterianism to Baptist beliefs. Mackenzie's faith was to link him to the increasingly influential temperance cause, particularly strong in Canada West where he lived, a constituency of which he was to represent in the Parliament of Canada by age 20 Mackenzie married Helen Neil (1826–52) in 1845 and with her had three children, with only one girl surviving infancy. In 1853, he married Jane Sym (1825–93).
In Canada, Mackenzie continued his career as a stonemason, building many structures that still stand today. He began working as a general contractor, earning a reputation for being a hard working, honest man as well as having a working man's view on fiscal policy.
Mackenzie involved himself in politics almost from the moment he arrived in Canada. He campaigned relentlessly for George Brown, owner of the Reformist paper The Globe in the 1851 election, helping him to win a seat in the assembly. In 1852 Mackenzie became editor of another reformist paper, the Lambton Shield. As editor, Mackenzie was perhaps a little too vocal, leading the paper to a suit of law for libel against the local conservative candidate. The paper lost the suit and was forced to fold due to financial hardship. Mackenzie was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a supporter of George Brown in 1861.
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