Daniel Hunter McMillan
Encyclopedia
Sir Daniel Hunter McMillan, KCMG
(January 14, 1846 – April 14, 1933) was a Manitoba
politician. He was a cabinet minister in Thomas Greenway
's government from 1889 to 1900, and served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
from 1900 to 1911.
McMillan was born in Whitby
, Canada West (now Ontario
), and was educated there and at Collingwood
. His initial career goal was to be a professional soldier. He saw active service on the Niagara
frontier in 1864, and was involved in repelling a Fenian
raid in 1866. In 1870, he served in the expedition of Col. Wolseley which ended the Red River Rebellion
. He eventually became a Major in the 95th Battalion, and was promoted to a command position on June 17, 1887.
McMillan settled in Winnipeg following the Wolseley expedition, and became a successful businessman within the city. He established a milling and grain business in Winnipeg in 1874, and oversaw the first shipment of western Canadian wheat to Minneapolis shortly thereafter. He also served as the first president of the Winnipeg Grain Exchange
for one year (1887–1888), served too as a Director and later Vice-President of the Great-West Life Assurance Company.
McMillan became politically active during this period. In 1879, he ran for the Manitoba legislature in the riding of Winnipeg against Thomas Scott, the leader of the opposition to John Norquay
's government. Norquay was supported by both Liberals
and Conservatives
at the time, and McMillan was a prominent member of the Winnipeg Liberal community. Despite strong backing from the Manitoba Free Press
, however, he lost to Scott by 387 votes to 321.
The 1879 election was unusual even by the standards of early Manitoba politics, in that both Norquay and Scott claimed the support of a majority of elected members after the results were announced. Eventually, Norquay consolidated his hold over the government and Scott departed for federal politics. On December 4, 1880, McMillan was elected for Winnipeg in a by-election, defeating Alexander Logan
.
Norquay would gradually break his ties with the Winnipeg Liberals over the next two years, and forged an alliance with the province's Conservative establishment in 1882. It may be assumed that McMillan had crossed into the opposition by this time. He was never a cabinet minister under Norquay, and did not run for re-election in 1883.
Thomas Greenway
's Liberals were called to form a government in January 1888, and won a landslide majority in a general election held later in the year. McMillan was returned to parliament for the riding of Winnipeg Centre
in this election, defeating Conservative Thomas Gilroy
by 972 votes to 470. He was not immediately called into Greenway's cabinet, but was named Provincial Treasurer
on May 7, 1889. He held this position for the remainder of Greenway's time as Premier, and was given the additional portfolio of Provincial Lands Commissioner on October 7, 1896. He had no difficulty being re-elected in 1892, and won unopposed in 1896.
Greenway's Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives under Hugh John Macdonald
in 1899, although McMillan retained his seat over Conservative A.J. Andrews by 1364 votes to 1249. On October 9, 1900, he was appointed as the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba by Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
. The post was mostly ceremonial by this time, and McMillan had little practical influence over the governments of Macdonald and Rodmond P. Roblin. He was knighted in 1902, and stepped down from the Lt. Governor's position in 1911.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(January 14, 1846 – April 14, 1933) was a Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician. He was a cabinet minister in Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
's government from 1889 to 1900, and served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
from 1900 to 1911.
McMillan was born in Whitby
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
, Canada West (now Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
), and was educated there and at Collingwood
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
. His initial career goal was to be a professional soldier. He saw active service on the Niagara
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
frontier in 1864, and was involved in repelling a Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
raid in 1866. In 1870, he served in the expedition of Col. Wolseley which ended the Red River Rebellion
Red River Rebellion
The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...
. He eventually became a Major in the 95th Battalion, and was promoted to a command position on June 17, 1887.
McMillan settled in Winnipeg following the Wolseley expedition, and became a successful businessman within the city. He established a milling and grain business in Winnipeg in 1874, and oversaw the first shipment of western Canadian wheat to Minneapolis shortly thereafter. He also served as the first president of the Winnipeg Grain Exchange
Winnipeg Grain Exchange
The Winnipeg Grain Exchange was established in 1887, and dissolution in 1986.It was also the predecessor of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange.- List of Presidents :The exchange had 97 presidents, Of which:...
for one year (1887–1888), served too as a Director and later Vice-President of the Great-West Life Assurance Company.
McMillan became politically active during this period. In 1879, he ran for the Manitoba legislature in the riding of Winnipeg against Thomas Scott, the leader of the opposition to John Norquay
John Norquay
John Norquay was the Premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. He was born near St. Andrews in what was then the Red River Colony, making him the first Premier of Manitoba to have been born in the region....
's government. Norquay was supported by both Liberals
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
and Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
at the time, and McMillan was a prominent member of the Winnipeg Liberal community. Despite strong backing from the Manitoba Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, however, he lost to Scott by 387 votes to 321.
The 1879 election was unusual even by the standards of early Manitoba politics, in that both Norquay and Scott claimed the support of a majority of elected members after the results were announced. Eventually, Norquay consolidated his hold over the government and Scott departed for federal politics. On December 4, 1880, McMillan was elected for Winnipeg in a by-election, defeating Alexander Logan
Alexander Logan
Alexander Logan was a Canadian politician, serving as the fourth Mayor of Winnipeg on three occasions, first from 1879 to 1882 then in 1882 and finally in 1884...
.
Norquay would gradually break his ties with the Winnipeg Liberals over the next two years, and forged an alliance with the province's Conservative establishment in 1882. It may be assumed that McMillan had crossed into the opposition by this time. He was never a cabinet minister under Norquay, and did not run for re-election in 1883.
Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
's Liberals were called to form a government in January 1888, and won a landslide majority in a general election held later in the year. McMillan was returned to parliament for the riding of Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1925 and since 1997...
in this election, defeating Conservative Thomas Gilroy
Thomas Gilroy
Thomas Gilroy is the name of:* Thomas Francis Gilroy , mayor of New York, United States in 1893–1894* Thomas Gilroy , mayor of Winnipeg in 1895...
by 972 votes to 470. He was not immediately called into Greenway's cabinet, but was named Provincial Treasurer
Provincial Treasurer
In Canadian politics the Provincial Treasurer is a senior protfolio in the Executive Council of provincial governments. The position is the provincial equivalent of the Minister of Finance and is responsible for setting the provincial budget. In most provinces the title of the position has changed...
on May 7, 1889. He held this position for the remainder of Greenway's time as Premier, and was given the additional portfolio of Provincial Lands Commissioner on October 7, 1896. He had no difficulty being re-elected in 1892, and won unopposed in 1896.
Greenway's Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives under Hugh John Macdonald
Hugh John Macdonald
Sir Hugh John Macdonald, PC was the only surviving son of the first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, and was a politician in his own right, serving as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and a federal cabinet minister, and briefly as the eighth Premier of Manitoba.-Early...
in 1899, although McMillan retained his seat over Conservative A.J. Andrews by 1364 votes to 1249. On October 9, 1900, he was appointed as the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba by Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. The post was mostly ceremonial by this time, and McMillan had little practical influence over the governments of Macdonald and Rodmond P. Roblin. He was knighted in 1902, and stepped down from the Lt. Governor's position in 1911.