Earnscliffe
Encyclopedia
Earnscliffe is a Victorian
manor
in Ottawa
, Ontario
. It is currently home of the British High Commissioner to Canada, and it was previously home to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald
. The manor overlooks the Ottawa River
just east of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge
. It is located just to the northwest of Sussex Drive
across from the Lester B. Pearson Building
.
The house is a National Historic Site of Canada, and the location of a plaque erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, but since it is a diplomatic residence, it is closed to visitors.
The manor was built by Thomas McKay
company for his son-in-law John McKinnon in 1855. McKinnon died suddenly in 1866 and the house was purchased by another of McKay's sons-in-law, Thomas Keefer. Two years later he sold it to railroad developer Thomas Reynolds. Reynolds resided there for several years, and it was during this period that it got the name "Earnscliffe," an archaic term for "eagle's cliff."
Reynolds died in 1879, and in 1883 his son sold the house to Sir John A. Macdonald. Macdonald had earlier stayed with Reynolds, and there are some stories that he gave it its name. In 1888 Macdonald made several additions to the structure. In 1891 Macdonald fell ill, and he died in his room in Earnscliffe. His widow, Lady Macdonald
briefly continued to reside in the manor after his death and Queen Victoria made her Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe. Soon, however, Agnes and her daughter departed for England and leased the house to Lord Treowen
, commander of the militia. Over the next decades the building was home to several local notables including Mrs Charles A.E. Harriss.
In 1930, William Henry Clark
, the first British High Commissioner to Canada, arranged to buy the house for the British government. It has been the home of the High Commissioner ever since.
On October 4, 2011 a fire damaged the building. British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock, living in the house at the time, was fine and no one was injured in the fire.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, 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....
. It is currently home of the British High Commissioner to Canada, and it was previously home to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
. The manor overlooks the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
just east of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge
Macdonald-Cartier Bridge
The Macdonald-Cartier Bridge is a bridge connecting Ottawa, Ontario, to Gatineau, Quebec. The bridge is a 618 m long continuous steel box girder bridge and carries six lanes of traffic. It links King Edward Avenue and Sussex Drive in Ottawa with Autoroute 5 in Quebec...
. It is located just to the northwest of Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive
Sussex Drive is a major street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and one of the city's major ceremonial and institutional routes....
across from the Lester B. Pearson Building
Lester B. Pearson Building
The Lester B. Pearson Building is the headquarters of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. It is located at 125 Sussex Drive in the Lower Town neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, and was built between 1968 and 1973. It is named after Lester B...
.
The house is a National Historic Site of Canada, and the location of a plaque erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, but since it is a diplomatic residence, it is closed to visitors.
The manor was built by Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay was a Canadian businessman who was one of the founders of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. He was born in Perth, Scotland and became a skilled stonemason...
company for his son-in-law John McKinnon in 1855. McKinnon died suddenly in 1866 and the house was purchased by another of McKay's sons-in-law, Thomas Keefer. Two years later he sold it to railroad developer Thomas Reynolds. Reynolds resided there for several years, and it was during this period that it got the name "Earnscliffe," an archaic term for "eagle's cliff."
Reynolds died in 1879, and in 1883 his son sold the house to Sir John A. Macdonald. Macdonald had earlier stayed with Reynolds, and there are some stories that he gave it its name. In 1888 Macdonald made several additions to the structure. In 1891 Macdonald fell ill, and he died in his room in Earnscliffe. His widow, Lady Macdonald
Agnes Macdonald
Susan Agnes Macdonald , 1st Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe was the second wife of Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada....
briefly continued to reside in the manor after his death and Queen Victoria made her Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe. Soon, however, Agnes and her daughter departed for England and leased the house to Lord Treowen
Ivor Herbert, 1st Baron Treowen
Major-General Ivor John Caradoc Herbert, 1st Baron Treowen CB, CMG, KStJ , known as Sir Ivor Herbert, Bt, between 1907 and 1917, was a British Liberal politician and British Army officer in the Grenadier Guards, who served as General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada from 1890 to 1895...
, commander of the militia. Over the next decades the building was home to several local notables including Mrs Charles A.E. Harriss.
In 1930, William Henry Clark
William Henry Clark
Sir William Henry Clark, GCMG, KCSI was a British civil servant and diplomat.-Diplomatic career:Clark was the first British High Commissioner to Canada from 1928 until 1934, during which time he acquired and lived in Earnscliffe manor, the former home of the first prime minister of Canada, Sir...
, the first British High Commissioner to Canada, arranged to buy the house for the British government. It has been the home of the High Commissioner ever since.
On October 4, 2011 a fire damaged the building. British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock, living in the house at the time, was fine and no one was injured in the fire.