Allan Marcus Atkinson McLean
Encyclopedia
Allan Marcus Atkinson McLean (September 27, 1891 - 1969) was a Canadian
businessman who co-managed Connors Brothers Limited, a New Brunswick
based fish processing
business, and a politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons
.
, the third of four children, he is a descendant of Dutch
United Empire Loyalists
on his mother's side, and Scots
émigrés to Cape Breton Island
on his father's side. In 1923, McLean, along with elder brother Neil
, took control of the Connors Bros. fish processing business that had been founded in Blacks Harbour
, New Brunswick by Lewis and Patrick Connors in 1894.
Much of the McLean brothers' lives were spent developing the fishing industry
centered around New Brunswick's Passamaquoddy Bay
in southwestern New Brunswick. Largely focused on canning herring
, Connors Brothers also served the northeastern United States' Roman Catholic 'fish on Friday' market by shipping haddock
and pollock
to New England
markets. Connors Brothers was sold to the George Weston Limited
congomerate headquartered in Toronto
in approximately 1966 as Neil and Allan McLean approached 80 years of age.
Both McLean brothers were active in politics. Neil McLean (1885-1967) served as president of the New Brunswick Liberal Party
for many years and then as a member of the Senate of Canada. Allan McLean ran for election to the Canadian House of Commons
in 1961 in the riding of Charlotte County, New Brunswick
, was elected and re-elected twice until retiring in 1968. He died in 1969.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman who co-managed Connors Brothers Limited, a New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
based fish processing
Fish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
business, and a politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
Biography
Born in Bristol, New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, the third of four children, he is a descendant of Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
on his mother's side, and Scots
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
émigrés to Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
on his father's side. In 1923, McLean, along with elder brother Neil
Alexander Neil McLean
Alexander Neil McLean was a Canadian businessman and an appointee to the Senate of Canada.Born in Hartland, New Brunswick, he was known as Neil. Along with his brother, Allan, in 1923 he and a group of investors took control of Connors Brothers Limited, a large fish processing business based in...
, took control of the Connors Bros. fish processing business that had been founded in Blacks Harbour
Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
Blacks Harbour is a Canadian village in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.Referred to simply as Blacks by locals, the village is situated on a harbour of the same name opening onto the Bay of Fundy. It is situated 15 kilometres southeast of the town of St...
, New Brunswick by Lewis and Patrick Connors in 1894.
Much of the McLean brothers' lives were spent developing the fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
centered around New Brunswick's Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
in southwestern New Brunswick. Largely focused on canning herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
, Connors Brothers also served the northeastern United States' Roman Catholic 'fish on Friday' market by shipping haddock
Haddock
The haddock , also known as the offshore hake, is a marine fish distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic. Haddock is a popular food fish and is widely fished commercially....
and pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
markets. Connors Brothers was sold to the George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited , often referred to as Weston or Weston's, is Canada's largest food processing and distribution company. Founded by George Weston in 1882, the company today consists of Weston Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary, and Loblaw Companies Limited, the country's largest supermarket...
congomerate headquartered in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in approximately 1966 as Neil and Allan McLean approached 80 years of age.
Both McLean brothers were active in politics. Neil McLean (1885-1967) served as president of the New Brunswick Liberal Party
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
for many years and then as a member of the Senate of Canada. Allan McLean ran for election to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in 1961 in the riding of Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County is located in the southwestern portion of New Brunswick, Canada.In most of the county, fishing and aquaculture dominate the local economy, although the town of St. Andrews is a tourist mecca and St...
, was elected and re-elected twice until retiring in 1968. He died in 1969.