By Mark Gillies
February 25, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada became a country in 1867, and in 1878 at just 11 years old, the new country was already holding its 4th federal election.
Sir William McDougall later in life.
The Halton County riding which included Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Acton, and Georgetown, elected William McDougall to represent our “agricultural goldmine”. William McDougall earned himself the nickname “Wandering Willie”, and for good reason. Here is the story of one of our most accomplished Member of Parliament.
William McDougall was born in 1822 in York (now Toronto). He became a lawyer in 1847 and practiced in Upper Canada. In 1849, his law office was the initial meeting place for the “Clear Grit” political movement, which later evolved into the Liberal Party.
George Brown, publisher of the Globe, which eventually became the Globe and Mail, was involved in some of the McDougall publishing ventures.
In 1850, he started The North American, a newspaper with a liberal viewpoint, which became the official voice of the “Clear Grits”. The paper eventually merged with The Globe, published by George Brown.
The two men worked together until 1865. William McDougall’s first election attempt was in 1857 when he tried unsuccessfully to win the seat for Perth.
In 1858 William McDougall was elected to the Upper Canada legislative assembly, serving as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Provincial Secretary. He represented North Oxford from 1858-1863, North Ontario 1863-1864, and Lanark North 1864-1867.
William McDougall was called to the Upper Canada bar in 1862. Shortly thereafter, he established the agricultural newspaper Canadian Farmer. The name was changed to Canadian Agriculturist and it published until 1888.
Abraham Lincoln and William McDougall were close friends.
Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, another “Father of Confederation”, a railway promoter, and the man responsible for Canada using the dollar system rather than the English pound, travelled with William McDougall to Washington to renegotiate the Reciprocity Treaty.
In 1863, William McDougall was sent to Washington to renegotiate the Reciprocity Treaty. William was the logical choice for this meeting, since he was already a personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln.
The meeting was shortened when the President invited William McDougall to travel with him by train to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where on November 19, 1863, the President delivered his famous “Gettysburg Address” at the opening ceremonies of the new Gettysburg Cemetery.
The home of David Wills and the place where Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address. McDougall was in the house when the address was written.
A painting of a younger William McDougall.
While in Gettysburg, the two men stayed at the home of a wealthy young attorney named David Wills. It was at this home that President Lincoln wrote his memorable speech.
In 1864, William McDougall attended two Confederation conferences, one in Charlottetown and the other in Quebec City. He also attended the 1866-67 in London.
The Fathers of Canada’s Confederation at the Charlottetown conference. McDougall, is the third man from the right in the back row.
In the election of 1867, William McDougall successfully ran for elected office, representing Lanark North, as a Liberal-Conservative candidate. Prime Minister John A MacDonald appointed William McDougall as Canada’s first Minister of Public Works.
William McDougall introduced the resolution to purchase Rupert’s Land and in 1869 traveled to England to negotiate the purchase. The territory, a land mass equal to about 80% of Canada. McDougall was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory.
In 1867 William McDougall introduced the resolution to purchase Rupert’s Land and in 1869 travelled to England to negotiate the purchase.
William McDougall was knighted Companion of the Bath in 1867. In 1869, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory, a land mass equal to about 80% of Canada today.
Louis Riel. His supporters turned Sir William McDougall back near the American and Canadian border preventing him from taking up his position as Lieutenant-Governor in Fort Garry.
To take up his new position in Fort Garry (now Winnipeg), the best route available was through the United States, travelling up the Red River from the Dakota Territory. Near the American and Canadian border, Sir William McDougall was turned back by the supporters of Louis Riel.
He returned to Ottawa and actively campaigned against Manitoba being included as a province due to a lack of population.
Sir William McDougall continued to act as an interim leader in a North-West provisional government until May 1870.
In the federal election of 1872, McDougall ran in the riding of Lanark North as a Liberal-Conservative candidate, but was defeated.
In 1875, he was elected to the Parliament of Ontario running as an Independent-Liberal representing Simcoe South from 1875-1878.
In the 1878 federal election Sir William McDougall represented Halton County until 1882. In the 1882 federal election, Sir William McDougall was re-elected, representing Algoma.
In the 1887 federal election, Sir William McDougall was defeated when he ran in the riding of Grenville South.
In 1881 Sir William McDougall was appointed Queen’s Counsel.
In 1890 Sir William McDougall turned down a Senate seat due to failing health, plus he was opposed to the concept of Senate appointments, favouring an elected Senate.
The one cent price for the paper is interesting. The notice was significant news at the time.
Sir William McDougall also declined a federal judgeship in British Columbia.
While in office, Sir William McDougall was responsible for the creation of the Bureau of Agriculture and Agricultural Societies Act. This legislation opened the door for Burlington’s market gardeners to create the Burlington Horticultural Society, an organization dedicated to the advancement of local scientific agriculture.
Sir William McDougall died in Ottawa, on May 5, 1905 and was buried at historic Beechwood Cemetery.
Mary Adelaide McDougall was the wife of Sir William. Mary died May 9, 1934 in Ottawa, the last widow of any Father of Confederation.
Out of the 36 “Fathers of Confederation”, only three remained after the passing of Sir William McDougall.
It is doubtful that anyone ran for office in as many constituencies as Sir William McDougall. It is equally as doubtful that more than five people in Burlington know that it’s Member of Parliament was a Father of Confederation.
Next week, you can read about the “Father of Burlington”, another great person forgotten by most of us in Burlington. Who was this man? There are 3 clues here to help you figure it out.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.
Mark writes a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
