Alexander McLean (Province of Canada politician)
Alexander McLean (February 14, 1793 – April 16, 1875) was a political figure in Upper Canada and Canada West.
Alexander McLean | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Stormont County | |
| In office 1837–1840 | |
| Preceded by | Archibald McLean |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Stormont | |
| In office 1841–1844 | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Donald Æneas MacDonell |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Stormont | |
| In office 1847–1851 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Æneas MacDonell |
| Succeeded by | William Mattice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1793 St. Andrews, Upper Canada |
| Died | April 16, 1875 (aged 82) Cornwall, Ontario |
| Political party | Sydenham Tory |
| Relations | Archibald McLean |
| Parent |
|
| Occupation | Lawyer, landowner, businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Britain |
| Branch/service | Upper Canada militia |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
He was born in St. Andrews in Upper Canada in 1793, the son of Neil McLean. He studied with John Strachan in Cornwall and later settled on a farm near Cornwall. He served as a lieutenant in the local militia during the War of 1812. He was named justice of the peace in the Eastern District in 1832.
In 1837, McLean was elected in a by-election to represent his home county, Stormont, in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.[1] The by-election was triggered when his brother Archibald, who was the member for Stormont, resigned the seat to accept an appointment as judge.[2]
Following the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada in 1841, McLean was elected to represent Stormont in the new Legislative Assembly, serving from 1841 to 1844.[3][4] In the Assembly, he was a moderate Tory. He voted in favour of the union at the first session, unlike the Compact Tories who were more closely aligned with the Family Compact. He also consistently voted to support measures proposed by the Governor General, Lord Sydenham, and on a key vote in 1843 relating to responsible government, he voted with the governor general, against the Reformers.[5]
He was again elected in the general election of 1847, serving in the Legislative Assembly from 1848 to 1851.[6][7]
He died in Cornwall in 1875.
References
- Journal of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, from twenty-eighth day of December, 1837, to sixth day of March, 1838,, p. 26 (December 30, 1837).
- Journal of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, from June 19, 1837 to July 11, 1837, p. 1 (June 19, 1837).
- J.O. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860, (Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), pp. 43–45.
- "Return of the names of Members chosen to serve in the Legislative Assembly of Canada", Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from the 14th day of June to the 18th day of September, in the year of Our Lord 1841..., pp. xi–xii.
- Paul G. Cornell, Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962; reprinted in paperback 2015), pp. 93–97.
- Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, pp. 48–49.
- "Return of the names of Members chosen to serve in the Legislative Assembly of Canada", Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, from the 25th day of February to the 23rd day of March, both days inclusive, 1848, pp. xi–xii (February 25, 1848).
Further reading
- Becoming Prominent: Leadership in Upper Canada, 1791-1841, J.K. Johnson (1989)