Matthew McCauley (politician)
| Matthew McCauley | |
|---|---|
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| 1st Mayor of Edmonton | |
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In office February 10, 1892 – January 14, 1895 |
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| Succeeded by | Herbert Charles Wilson |
| Alderman on the Edmonton Town Council | |
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In office January 13, 1896 – December 14, 1896 |
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories | |
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In office November 4, 1898 – May 21, 1902 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Oliver |
| Succeeded by | Richard Secord |
| Constituency | Edmonton |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
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In office November 9, 1905 – March 22, 1909 |
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| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | James Bismark Holden |
| Constituency | Vermilion |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1850 Owen Sound, Ontario |
| Died | October 25, 1930 (aged 80) Sexsmith, Alberta |
| Political party | Alberta Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Matilda Benson (1875–1896; her death) Annie Cookson (1902–1930; his death) |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Signature |  |
Matthew McCauley (July 11, 1850 – October 25, 1930) was the first mayor of the city of Edmonton, and a member of the legislative assemblies of both the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
McCauley was born into a farming family in what would become the province of Ontario to an Irish father and Canadian mother. His restless nature and desire for adventure led him to travel west to Manitoba. In Manitoba, he established a livery business, which he ran until he set off for Edmonton in 1879. He farmed for two years in Fort Saskatchewan before finally moving to Edmonton, where he established the settlement's first livery and cartage business.
Along with a couple prominent Edmonton citizens, he formed an association aimed to restore order in the area, settling many disputes, including during the 1885 Riel Rebellion as its captain. He soon established a school board, recognizing the need for a school, which he served as president and trustee for 18 years. Shortly before Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892, he formed the Board of Trade. Upon the incorporation, he was acclaimed the town's first mayor in 1892, and the next two following years. He did not run for re-election at the end of his third term, opting to run for the seat representing Edmonton on the Territorial Legislature, which he served for six years. Following his defeat moved to Tofield, Alberta farm until 1905, when he returned to Edmonton and was elected to the new Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The following year, he resigned his seat to serve as the first warden of the province's first penitentiary. After five years as warden, he moved to British Columbia to fruit farm, but he moved back to Sexsmith, Alberta 13 years later to farm, where he died in 1930.
Matthew McCauley was born July 11, 1850 in Owen Sound, Ontario to Alexander and Eleanor (née Latimer) McCauley. His father Alexander was an Irish immigrant who was born in Antrim. He moved to Canada at the age of five, and went on to become a successful farmer. Though his early years were described as him being a "typical farm boy" of the time, he received schooling from the Owen Sound Public School. McCauley desired to follow in the footsteps of this father as a farmer after his completing his education, but his restless nature and passion for adventure set him off to the west, where he first set off to Fort Garry in Manitoba.
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