Peter McLaren (politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter McLaren was a Canadian
politician.
Born in Lanark
, Upper Canada
, he was the son of James McLaren, an immigrant from Scotland
. He married Sophia, the daughter of William Lees
. McLaren was involved in the timber trade and operated sawmills in Carleton Place
and at McLaren's depot on the Kingston and Pembroke Railway
line. In 1881, the Ontario government passed the Rivers and Streams Act, mainly due to a dispute between McLaren and a rival lumber company over access to McLaren's timber slides on the Mississippi River
. The Act was disallowed by John Alexander Macdonald, leading to a dispute over jurisdiction between the Mowat
government in Ontario and the federal government. However, in 1884, the Act was upheld by the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
in McLaren v. Caldwell
.
McLaren was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1890 on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Perth, Ontario. A Conservative
, he served 29 years until his death in Perth
in 1919.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Born in Lanark
Lanark, Ontario
The village of Lanark is located in the township of Lanark Highlands in eastern Ontario, Canada.-History:The village was first settled in 1820 by Scottish immigrants who named it after the town of Lanark in Scotland...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, he was the son of James McLaren, an immigrant from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He married Sophia, the daughter of William Lees
William Lees
William Lees was a Ontario farmer, merchant and political figure. He represented Lanark South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as an independent Conservative and then a Conservative from 1879 to 1890....
. McLaren was involved in the timber trade and operated sawmills in Carleton Place
Carleton Place, Ontario
Carleton Place is a town in the eastern portion of Eastern Ontario, Canada, in Lanark County, about west of downtown Ottawa. It is located at the crossroads of Highway 15 and Highway 7, halfway between the towns of Perth, Almonte, Smiths Falls, and the nation's capital, Ottawa...
and at McLaren's depot on the Kingston and Pembroke Railway
Kingston and Pembroke Railway
The Kingston and Pembroke Railway was a Canadian railway that operated in eastern Ontario. The railway was seen as a business opportunity which would support the lumber and mining industries, as well as the agricultural economy in eastern Ontario....
line. In 1881, the Ontario government passed the Rivers and Streams Act, mainly due to a dispute between McLaren and a rival lumber company over access to McLaren's timber slides on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River (Ontario)
The Mississippi River is a tributary of the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario in Canada. It is in length from its source in Upper Mazinaw Lake, has a drainage area of , and has a mean discharge of...
. The Act was disallowed by John Alexander Macdonald, leading to a dispute over jurisdiction between the Mowat
Oliver Mowat
Sir Oliver Mowat, was a Canadian politician, and the third Premier of Ontario from 1872 to 1896, making him the longest serving premier of that province and the 3rd longest in all of Canadian history...
government in Ontario and the federal government. However, in 1884, the Act was upheld by the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
in McLaren v. Caldwell
McLaren v. Caldwell
McLaren v. Caldwell 9 A.C. 392 was a landmark decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council that upheld upheld Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat's Rivers and Streams Act, which prevented private ownership of streams and rivers in the province, and which was sharply opposed by prime minister...
.
McLaren was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1890 on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Perth, Ontario. A Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
, he served 29 years until his death in Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
in 1919.