David Murdoch McPherson
Encyclopedia
David Murdoch "D.M." McPherson (November 17, 1847 – February 4, 1915) was an Canadian farmer, manufacturer and political figure. He represented Glengarry
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Liberal-Patrons of Industry
member from 1894 to 1898. His surname also appears as Macpherson in some sources.
He was born in Lancaster Township, Canada West, the son of John McPherson, and educated there. He inherited the family farm which produced milk and cheese. He became a major cheese producer, owning a large group of factories known as the Allan Grove Combination, with factories in Ontario, Quebec
and upper New York
state. He also manufactured cheese boxes at Lancaster and Alexandria, where he partnered with Jacob Thomas Schell
, and had patented a steel cheese box hoop. McPherson invented several mechanical devices for use in cheese making. In 1871, he married Margaret McBean. McPherson was commonly known as the "Cheese King". He was a commissioner to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition of 1886 in London
, England
. McPherson served as president of the Dairymen’s Association of Eastern Ontario in 1887 and became the first president of the Dairymen’s Association of the Dominion of Canada in 1890. He was also president of the Dominion Cold Storage Company. He was defeated for the provincial seat in 1898 by Donald Robert McDonald.
He died in Montreal
in 1915.
Glengarry (electoral district)
Glengarry was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917, and from 1925 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
as a Liberal-Patrons of Industry
Patrons of Industry
The Grand Association of the Patrons of Industry in Ontario was a Canadian farmers' organization formed in 1890 that cooperated with the urban labour movement to address the political frustrations of both groups with big business....
member from 1894 to 1898. His surname also appears as Macpherson in some sources.
He was born in Lancaster Township, Canada West, the son of John McPherson, and educated there. He inherited the family farm which produced milk and cheese. He became a major cheese producer, owning a large group of factories known as the Allan Grove Combination, with factories in Ontario, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and upper New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state. He also manufactured cheese boxes at Lancaster and Alexandria, where he partnered with Jacob Thomas Schell
Jacob Thomas Schell
Jacob Thomas Schell was a merchant and political figure. He represented Glengarry in the Canadian House of Commons from 1900 to 1908 as a Liberal member....
, and had patented a steel cheese box hoop. McPherson invented several mechanical devices for use in cheese making. In 1871, he married Margaret McBean. McPherson was commonly known as the "Cheese King". He was a commissioner to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition of 1886 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. McPherson served as president of the Dairymen’s Association of Eastern Ontario in 1887 and became the first president of the Dairymen’s Association of the Dominion of Canada in 1890. He was also president of the Dominion Cold Storage Company. He was defeated for the provincial seat in 1898 by Donald Robert McDonald.
He died in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1915.
External links
- The Canadian parliamentary companion, 1897 JA Gemmill
- Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Main Street Glengarry County, 1905 - 2005 (pdf)
- Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry : a history, 1784-1945, JG Harkness (1946)
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online