Edmund Mortimer McDonald
Encyclopedia
Edmund Mortimer McDonald (September 29, 1825 – May 25, 1874) was a Nova Scotia
journalist, publisher and political figure. He represented Lunenburg
in the Canadian House of Commons
as an Anti-Confederate
and then a Liberal-Conservative from 1868 to 1872.
He was born in West River, Nova Scotia
in 1825. He worked as a journalist with Joseph Howe
on the Novascotian
during the 1840s. In 1847, he became the owner of the Eastern Chronicle at New Glasgow
. He served as Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia
from 1860 to 1863. In 1863, he founded the Halifax Citizen with William Garvie
; the paper favoured a maritime union but opposed Confederation
. McDonald and Garvie also helped found the Anti-confederation League, which had the same aims. In 1867, he was elected to the House of Commons and lobbied for the removal of Nova Scotia from the union. When Howe was able to negotiate better terms for the province in 1869, McDonald threw his support behind Sir John A. Macdonald
. In 1872, he was named customs inspector for the port of Halifax
. He died at Halifax in 1874.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
journalist, publisher and political figure. He represented Lunenburg
Lunenburg (electoral district)
Lunenburg was a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1925 and from 1949 to 1953. Its boundary was that of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.-History:...
in 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...
as an Anti-Confederate
Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now Atlantic Canada by several parties opposed to Canadian confederation.-Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia, the "Anti-Confederates" were led by Joseph Howe. They attempted to reverse the colony's decision to join Confederation, which was initially highly...
and then a Liberal-Conservative from 1868 to 1872.
He was born in West River, Nova Scotia
West River, Nova Scotia
West River is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County .-References:*...
in 1825. He worked as a journalist with Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
on the Novascotian
Novascotian
The Novascotian was a newspaper published in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.The paper was founded as the Nova Scotian or Colonial Herald, by George R. Young, in 1824...
during the 1840s. In 1847, he became the owner of the Eastern Chronicle at New Glasgow
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
. He served as Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
from 1860 to 1863. In 1863, he founded the Halifax Citizen with William Garvie
William Garvie
William Garvie was a lawyer, journalist and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as a Liberal from 1871 to 1872....
; the paper favoured a maritime union but opposed Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. McDonald and Garvie also helped found the Anti-confederation League, which had the same aims. In 1867, he was elected to the House of Commons and lobbied for the removal of Nova Scotia from the union. When Howe was able to negotiate better terms for the province in 1869, McDonald threw his support behind 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...
. In 1872, he was named customs inspector for the port of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. He died at Halifax in 1874.