John Augustine Macdonald
Encyclopedia
John Augustine Macdonald (4 February 1913 - 4 January 1961) was a Progressive Conservative party
member of the Canadian House of Commons
. He was born in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
becoming a potato grower, general merchant, produce dealer by career.
His father was John Alexander Macdonald
, a provincial politician then a federal Member of Parliament and Senator. The younger Macdonald served in World War II
, commanding the Prince Edward Island Regiment
. He was injured at Normandy on July 1944 and returned to Prince Edward Island. He successfully won a seat at the 3rd Kings
riding in a 1945 provincial by-election despite remaining in hospital recovering from his war injuries. He lost his riding in the 1947 provincial election, but returned to the provincial legislature in a 1951 election victory after which he became his party's whip
and finance critic.
As a merchant, Macdonald became J. A. MacDonald & Co. Ltd.'s President and was a director for Associated Shippers, Inc. He also served on various boards and associations.
Macdonald was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
at King's
riding in the 1957 general election
and re-elected there in the 1958 election
. Macdonald made two previous unsuccessful attempts to win a seat at King's in the 1949
and 1953 elections
.
Macdonald died at his home in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
on the morning of 4 January 1961, during his term in the 24th Parliament
. His wife, Margaret Mary Macdonald
, succeeded him as the Member of Parliament for King's in a by-election later that year.
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
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...
. He was born in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Cardigan, Prince Edward Island is a Canadian fishing community in eastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island.The community is named after James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan, later Duke of Monague...
becoming a potato grower, general merchant, produce dealer by career.
His father was John Alexander Macdonald
John Alexander Macdonald (Prince Edward Island politician)
John Alexander Macdonald, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Tracadie, Prince Edward Island, the son of John Charles Macdonald, he represented 3rd Kings in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1908 to 1915 and from 1923 to 1925 as a Conservative member...
, a provincial politician then a federal Member of Parliament and Senator. The younger Macdonald served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, commanding the Prince Edward Island Regiment
The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)
The Prince Edward Island Regiment is a Primary Reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Forces, Land Force Atlantic Area, 36 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment is based in Charlottetown and Summerside.-Perpetuations:...
. He was injured at Normandy on July 1944 and returned to Prince Edward Island. He successfully won a seat at the 3rd Kings
3rd Kings
3rd Kings was an electoral district in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, which elected two members to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1873 to 1993.The district comprised the western central portion of Kings County....
riding in a 1945 provincial by-election despite remaining in hospital recovering from his war injuries. He lost his riding in the 1947 provincial election, but returned to the provincial legislature in a 1951 election victory after which he became his party's whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
and finance critic.
As a merchant, Macdonald became J. A. MacDonald & Co. Ltd.'s President and was a director for Associated Shippers, Inc. He also served on various boards and associations.
Macdonald was first elected 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...
at King's
King's (Prince Edward Island electoral district)
King's was a federal electoral district in Prince Edward Island, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1896 to 1968.This riding was created from King's County riding....
riding in the 1957 general election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
and re-elected there in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
. Macdonald made two previous unsuccessful attempts to win a seat at King's in the 1949
Canadian federal election, 1949
The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. It was the first election in Canada in almost thirty years in which the Liberal Party of Canada was not led by William Lyon Mackenzie King. King had...
and 1953 elections
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
.
Macdonald died at his home in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Cardigan, Prince Edward Island is a Canadian fishing community in eastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island.The community is named after James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan, later Duke of Monague...
on the morning of 4 January 1961, during his term in the 24th Parliament
24th Canadian Parliament
The 24th Canadian Parliament was in session from May 12, 1958 until April 19, 1962. The membership was set by the 1958 federal election on March 31, 1958, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1962 election.It was controlled by a...
. His wife, Margaret Mary Macdonald
Margaret Mary Macdonald
Margaret Mary Macdonald was a Canadian politician. On May 29, 1961 she became the first woman from Prince Edward Island to be represented in the House of Commons....
, succeeded him as the Member of Parliament for King's in a by-election later that year.