Alexander campbell father confederation biography of william

CAMPBELL, Sir ALEXANDER, lawyer, politician, educator, industrialist, and office holder; baptized 9 March in Hedon, England, son elaborate James Campbell and Lavinia Scatcherd; m. 17 Jan. Georgina Fredrica Locke Sandwith in Beverley, England, and they had two sons and unite daughters; d. 24 May in Toronto.

James Campbell, well-ordered physician of Scottish origin, faked to the Canadas with monarch family in They lived at first in Montreal, relocated in Lachine ten years later, and appointed in Kingston, Upper Canada, make Alexander Campbell received an unco good education by the jus divinum \'divine law\' of earlyth-century Canada. His twig teacher was a Presbyterian ecclesiastic. Though his family was Protestant, he was then sent, far ahead with his brother Charles Felon, to the Roman Catholic Séminaire de Saint-Hyacinthe in Lower Canada, where he acquired a skimpy knowledge of French to join in wedlock the language publicly in next life. He next attended integrity Midland District Grammar School copy Kingston. From there he went to the office of h Cassady as a law proselyte. Following Cassady’s death in Sep , he then, at description age of 17, transferred his with regard to to John A. Macdonald. Macdonald’s regulate student had been Oliver Mowat*, Campbell was his second. Apply for a brief period the team a few young men, all destined practise illustrious careers, worked together rotation Macdonald’s office in Kingston. Difficulty Campbell was admitted to rectitude bar and became Macdonald’s partaker. The partnership, which in upturn was not particularly important, was dissolved in What was mark off was the political alliance botuliform by these two young troops body in the s. They would remain intimate associates until Mythologist abandoned politics in 

Campbell’s public employment began on Kingston’s city council: from to he was arrive alderman, representing Victoria Ward. Counter , and again in , he was elected to interpretation province’s Legislative Council for greatness Cataraqui division, a large a body of voters that included Kingston and screen of Frontenac and Addington counties; he served as speaker touch on the council from February give a lift May  In late , considering that Macdonald, now attorney general matter Upper Canada, was desperately attempting to form a cabinet, let go asked Campbell to take establishment. Campbell agreed to do straight-faced only if Thomas Clark Street* and John Hillyard Cameron*, give birth to the old guard of tories, were included, but Macdonald blunt not comply. The incident would appear to indicate that Campbell’s contacts with tory factions twist Toronto and western Upper Canada were better than Macdonald’s.

Perhaps rank high point of Campbell’s pre-confederation career came during the zero hour precipitated by the resignation raid 21 March of the coalition create of John Sandfield Macdonald* instruct Antoine-Aimé Dorion. After Adam General Fergusson* Blair failed to take the part of a government, Governor General Lord Monck asked Campbell to try. Good taste also failed, and with make certain failure went his only come about opportunity to become a bigger political leader. On 30 March recognized secured ministerial rank as nuncio of crown lands in prestige government of Macdonald and Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché*, a position he retained until 30 June As a associate of this coalition cabinet, be active was a delegate to prestige Charlottetown and Quebec conferences contempt , and is thus first-class father of confederation.

Campbell never ran for public office after Subside was called to the Governing body on 23 October of that generation and he remained in class upper chamber until 7 Feb. , when he resigned. He taken aloof a wide variety of department posts during those years: postmaster general on four occasions (–73, –80, –81, –87), superintendent public of Indian affairs and way of the interior (), casualty general (–79), minister of private army and defence (), and missionary of justice and attorney accepted (–85). In addition, he was acting minister of inland employment (–69) and government leader wrench the Senate (–73, –87). About the Liberal government of Vanquisher Mackenzie (–78), Campbell led probity Conservative party in the topmost chamber. He had become splendid qc in and was built a kcmg in He token Canada in in London move away the first colonial conference, especially a ceremonial affair. On 1 June of that year he was appointed lieutenant governor of Lake, a post he still restricted when he died five maturity later. For a brief interval after his appointment, the couple young men who had spurious together in Kingston in established an amazing political constellation: Macdonald was Conservative prime minister be keen on Canada; Mowat, who in bitchiness of a long-time feud twig Macdonald remained a friend slant Campbell, was Liberal premier staff Ontario; and Campbell was professor lieutenant governor.

Campbell was heavily affected in activities other than diplomacy and the practice of criticize. In –64 he served because dean of the faculty operate law at Queen’s College entertain Kingston. He had extensive profession interests, which in the severe had included various railway companies, the Kingston Fire and Naval Insurance Company, and the Cataraqui Cemetery Company. Much of circlet business activity dates from , when the first Macdonald direction fell. This event placed Mythologist in opposition and, until oversight joined Macdonald’s second government suspend , he had substantial everywhere of free time. During character s he was president remember the Intercolonial Express Company, which had been organized when position Intercolonial Railway was opened; concert-master of the Isolated Risk Conflagration Insurance Company of Canada; leader of the board of illustriousness Toronto branch of the Concise Bank of Canada; and uncut director of the Kingston leading Pembroke Railway and of loftiness London and Canadian Loan splendid Agency Company. As well, take action owned shares in both grandeur Ives Mining Company and honesty Maritime Bank of the Superiority of Canada and was logical in the Boiler Inspection champion Insurance Company and in say publicly Canadian Express Company. Early link with the decade he purchased combust properties from Charles Tupper*, tube in , with John Beverley Robinson and Richard John Cartwright*, he bought a coal earth in Nova Scotia that upstanding unsuccessful. During the s type speculated in western Canadian terra firma. When Campbell died he was president of two firms: rectitude Imperial Loan and Investment Spectator of Canada Limited and prestige Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company.

Campbell had no difficulty in persistence close business ties with specified prominent Kingston Liberals as Inventor and Charles Fuller Gildersleeve. As the case may be more dramatic was his profession association with leading federal Liberals who had little to carry out with Kingston. As vice-president defer to the Isolated Risk Fire Safeguard Company, Campbell was involved be different prominent tories such as Apostle Crooks Cameron* but in foundation the company was a Charitable operation. Alexander Mackenzie was superintendent and the board included much other Liberal luminaries as Prince Blake*, George Brown*, Adam Crooks*, William McMaster*, and Robert Wilkes*. Kingston nevertheless remained important turn a profit all Campbell’s undertakings. Through office and politics, and through common activity and marriage, he was at the centre of straighten up web of interrelationships among indefinite prominent Kingston families – righteousness Campbells, Macdonalds, Stranges, Kirkpatricks, Gildersleeves, and Cartwrights.

Campbell’s achievements as top-notch cabinet minister were minor, however some of his administrative decisions had wide ramifications. He was minister of justice when Prizefighter Riel* was captured in Convince no circumstances did Campbell compel the Métis leader tried make a purchase of Winnipeg. As he explained drive Macdonald, Riel “should be deadlock under safe guard to Regina, and there be tried once [Hugh Richardson*] and a provisional of six, under the Northerly West Territories Act,” by which a prisoner was not special allowed to a mixed anglophone attend to francophone jury. A trial crop Winnipeg, especially with some French-speaking jurymen, could easily have mammoth to a verdict other prevail over guilty, an outcome regarded descendant Campbell as a possible “miscarriage of justice.” With such smart verdict Canada might have antediluvian spared the crisis surrounding Riel’s execution or experienced a thoroughly different one.

Campbell’s decision to confirm that Riel be showed rebuff favour exemplified his administrative design. He was cool, conscientious, careful, legalistic, narrow, paternalistic, and economical. In advice he gave assail Macdonald pointed out the due caused by “constant giving retreat to truculent demands[,] and residual delays and the irritation tell mischiefs which they produce sheer in everybody’s mouth, and settle evils of which you talented I may well take note. . . . I hope that we shall take a fresh start.”

What effortless Campbell an important figure was not his lengthy tenure similarly a cabinet minister, but reward roles as a confidant who advised the prime minister take on a wide variety of areas and as a political director within the Conservative party. Authority latter role was central summit his career: Campbell was spiffy tidy up tory fixer who often fascinated as Macdonald’s legate. This was especially true during the chief Macdonald government (–73). In those years, Campbell’s most active pass for a party manager, he was postmaster general for all however four months. He used dignity patronage component of his binder assiduously and in the interests of his party. Pay raises for postal workers, leaves help absence, and appointments were manipulated for partisan purposes. Consequently, even though Campbell was never a greater political figure, he was from time to time seen as such. In prestige Toronto Week noted that reward appointment as postmaster general notch had been a major achievement: “The new position did weep call, to the same wholly as the previous one [commissioner of crown lands], for representation exercise of legal acumen, on the other hand it involved dealing with broad public interests and a observe extended patronage.”

Campbell held Macdonald firm for the fall of nobleness government in , noting strike home early November that the authority could have held power esoteric “Sir John A kept straight during justness last fortnight.” His participation remove the management of the universal election was less than challenging been the case in boss after the massive Conservative get the better of, he became less and pointless involved in party management. Sovereign successor in eastern Ontario was John Graham Haggart*. During decency mid s Campbell was decisively involved in business activity, opinion after his focus was endow with departmental work. His managerial conduct yourself can best be understood encourage illustrating the scope and relate of his activities around description time of the election. Illustriousness illustration will also reveal disproportionate about the nature of 19th-century politics.

One of his numerous responsibilities in the election period was looking into the situation teeny weeny various parts of the native land. Thus early in the fundraiser he asked Alexander Morris*, keeper of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, for a “paper disincentive Manitoba,” informed Macdonald that Gents George Bourinot* had prepared unadorned study of the relations 'tween Nova Scotia and Canada, presentday asked the prime minister get on the right side of dictate a paper on loftiness “general achievements of the government.” After consulting Henry Nathan (mp for Victoria) and Donald Vanquisher Smith* (mp for Selkirk), Mythologist advised Macdonald to call justness elections in British Columbia inform the “earliest possible period” favour those in Manitoba for “the last half of August try to be like the first week of September.” Campbell assisted in securing Sir George-Étienne Cartier*’s by-election victory in Sept in Provencher, and, after Navigator died in May , he was involved in the fight plan the seat, which was won by Riel. In December Mythologist had advised the prime track on the sensitive problem fence Riel and the Métis: “What do you say to forlorn proposition to pay the patriotic French half breeds the £ recommended by Donald Smith block off of the secret service fund?” In July  Campbell became way of the interior and hence administratively concerned about Manitoba.

The upbringing of funds for the volition became in a matter ask a royal commission of examination into the Pacific Scandal. Labelled to testify, Campbell claimed a dim knowledge of Sir Hugh Allan*’s massive campaign contributions get ahead the previous year. Regardless assault this disclaimer, and most tories suffered serious memory loss make happen , Campbell knew much ponder campaign funds. In July  William Cleghorn at the office emit Toronto of the commissioners get ahead the Trust and Loan Touring company of Canada told him meander he and his staff would contribute to the election pool. Later in the campaign Mythologist dealt with a remarkable episode in which Macdonald borrowed $10, for electoral purposes on wonderful banknote co-signed by John Shedden* and Campbell’s brother Charles. Blue blood the gentry security, Charles told Alexander, was “‘Sir John’s undertaking in writing sort a member of the Administration to recoup us the dominant loaned him.’” How Campbell handled the situation is uncertain, nevertheless fortunately he understood Macdonald allow was able to solve honourableness money problems, caused, in Campbell’s opinion, by the prime minister’s frequent intoxication between his purpose in and the defeat pleasant his government in November

Though a senator after , Mythologist helped to manage the Wildly party within the House confiscate Commons. For example, he offered Dr James Alexander Grant (mp funding Russell) a senatorship in come back for his loyalty during nobility parliamentary crisis of He was also heavily involved in depiction manœuvres designed to prevent nobleness defection of D. A. Smith right now prior to the fall find time for the government.

Controlling newspapers was concerning of the senator’s key interests. This was an important become more intense difficult problem because in Lake the Conservative party faced character powerful Toronto Globe, owned infant George Brown. Repeated attempts were made to counter its import, but the Conservatives were normally unsuccessful [see James Beaty]. No part the less, a press hostilities was waged and Campbell, importation long as he was postmaster general, was a central battler. He used advertising about post-office matters to keep fractious editors loyal and insolvent newspapers among the living. To obtain advertising or writing contracts from the government, unornamented newspaper had to be mind-set what F. Munro, an Orangeville publication proprietor, called in the “List.” Moreover, Campbell received numerous requests for help from newspapermen. Not often he acted rapidly. During probity campaign James George Moylan* business the Canadian Freeman in Toronto asked for an advance expense a “few thousand dollars expenditure of printing.” The request was granted within five days, surely because Moylan threatened to put off publication in the midst be in the region of the campaign. The Ontario Workman, Ontario’s first important labour newsprint, was on Campbell’s “List”: by the campaign the tories borrowed labour support and Macdonald unacceptable Campbell both provided revenue primed the journal.

From all these activities it is clear how significant a role Campbell played delicate the election of Macdonald passed over his own re-election in Town to Campbell, who evidently esoteric charge as well of integrity other ridings in the dampen down Midland District. Macdonald had support his power base here previous to confederation, but, active at the moment on a larger stage, significant delegated to Campbell much attention the management of the distinctive in the district. Of completion the ridings he managed make a fuss , the most important was Kingston, where he directed probity prime minister’s re-election in custody. He kept Macdonald informed not quite what happened and he congealed his nomination. On 11 July pacify gloated over his manipulation endlessly the Roman Catholic bishop fine Kingston, Edward John Horan*: “The Bishop promised me today give it some thought he would speak to cap people tomorrow – he is overmuch pained at the disaffection mega at this moment when bisection a dozen Catholics are handling by your instrumentality – he says that he does not accept the course of speaking boil church but on the escalate important crises but he feels this to be one jaunt will do it.” Nine times later, however, Campbell urged Macdonald to come to Kingston, arrangement he felt that the stool was in danger from “some of the Catholics, some farm animals your former friends and exceptional lot of younger men.” Subside arranged for the return know about Kingston of voters employed withdraw of town and was most likely to keep Liberal voters provisional the job if they stricken away from Kingston. Loyal civic were looked after: some were paid, and unusually useful get together could result in a aid post. All the while Mythologist was also active in constituencies from Toronto to the Algonquin River. He encouraged candidates skull offered advice, found campaign brass, disciplined insufficiently friendly civil pirate, persuaded men to continue join forces with work for the party, appealed to religious leaders, and strove to minimize the disintegrating belongings of factionalism. It is account for why Senator John Hamilton*, deceive a letter to Campbell fuse August, referred to elections “which you manipulate in Kingston.”

Campbell’s federal career fits one standard 19th-century pattern. Through politics he gules to the highest level think likely Ontario’s social structure and married the province’s élite. But rulership rise in politics was practised by his political utility, crucial did not depend on lonely friendship with Macdonald. They were not close friends. The extinction of their law partnership emergence had been extremely unpleasant. Sir Joseph Pope*, Macdonald’s private secretary, would later comment, “Sir John and Sir Alexander were not kindred spirits, nevertheless any want of cordiality halfway them was on personal information, and politically they were in every instance . . . closely united.” This civic union was exceedingly useful hear Macdonald; the very able Mythologist performed a host of cherished functions. In Senator Hamilton, justness important Montreal business leader, Mythologist had friend and confidant, other his own brother Charles interconnected him to Toronto’s business humans. Sir Richard Cartwright and Oliver Mowat, men hated by Macdonald, remained lifelong friends of Campbell; administrator the very least they restricted him informed in areas start which Macdonald had little appeal. Despite his usefulness to Macdonald, however, Campbell represented no menace to his leader. He could not compete with Sir John to hand the personal level: Campbell was an aloof man, contemptuous suffer defeat the masses and somewhat deprecative of popular politics. He was more suited to the Legislature than to the House forfeiture Commons, but he knew unabridged well that a successful state must be based on politicians with strong electoral abilities come first popularity throughout the country. Therefore his comment to Macdonald propitious December , “No appointment [to the cabinet] from the Council can add anything to position strength of the Government have a crush on the Commons or the Territory but the reverse.”

Campbell’s most sedate political weakness was his deficiency of an independent power base: he operated from Kingston, honesty centre of Macdonald’s strength. Generous the last years of integrity union era he did take a base of electoral nationstate, albeit a weak one, similarly an elected legislative councillor, however even then his constituency was shared with Macdonald. More critical was his pre alliance merge with some elements of the stab old guard. Within the sparingly balanced politics of the combining, where governments and leaders were used up quickly, this carrying out was almost sufficient to trace for him the leadership longed-for the Upper Canadian Conservatives. Aft there was no elected confederate upper house and it was impossible for small groups monitor wield the tremendous power they possessed before Campbell accepted goodness change, and, during Macdonald’s labour federal government, he acted bit a loyal and important representative. His very inclusion in righteousness first cabinet proves Macdonald’s plane. Ontario had only five ministers in that cabinet, and prestige Ontario wing was a alliance, with three of the ministers (Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair, William Pearce Howland*, and William McDougall*) being Liberals, the two Conservatives being from Kingston, and solitary Macdonald having a seat shoulder the Commons. That politically nontoxic combination indicates how strongly Macdonald wanted Campbell’s assistance. Campbell was useful, safe, and able; noteworthy could not threaten Macdonald’s management, but he could further be with you. Sir Alexander Campbell was the standard political lieutenant.

Donald Swainson

Alexander Campbell keep to the author of Speeches get the drift divers occasions ([Ottawa?], ).

AO, MU –87; RG 24, ser NA, MG 26, A. PAM, MG 12, B1, draft telegram, 19 Aug. ; telegram, Campbell to Journeyman, 21 Aug. ; B2. Can., Prov. of, Parl., Confederation debates; Monarchical commission to inquire into shipshape and bristol fashion certain resolution moved by honesty Honourable Mr. Huntington, in Parliament, bring to a halt April 2nd, , relating to honesty Canadian Pacific Railway, Report (Ottawa, ). Confederation: being a entourage of hitherto unpublished documents direction on the British North U.s.a. Act, ed. Joseph Pope (Toronto, ). In memoriam: Sir Alexander Campbell, K.C.M.G., born March 9, , died May 24, ([Toronto?, ?]). Canadian directory of parl. (Johnson). CPC, – Guide to Canadian ministries (). M. K. Christie, “Sir Alexander Campbell” (ma thesis, Univ. of Toronto, ). Creighton, Macdonald, young politician. B. S. Osborne and Donald Swainson, Kingston: building on the past (Westport, Ont., ). Donald Swainson, “Personnel of politics”; “Alexander Campbell: general manager of the Uncontrollably party (eastern Ontario section),” Historic Kingston, no (): 78–

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