Archibald J. McLean

Archibald James McLean (September 25, 1860 October 13, 1933) was a cattleman and politician from Ontario, Canada.[5][6] He was one of the Big Four who helped found the Calgary Stampede in 1912.

Archibald J. McLean
McLean c.1909 – c.1913
5th Minister of Public Works of Alberta
In office
October 16, 1917  August 21, 1921
Preceded byCharles Stewart[1]
Succeeded byAlexander Ross[2]
Minister of Municipal Affairs of Alberta
In office
December 20, 1911  May 3, 1912
Succeeded byCharles Stewart[1]
3rd Provincial Secretary of Alberta
In office
June 1, 1910  October 15, 1917
Preceded byDuncan Marshall[3]
Succeeded byWilfrid Gariépy
Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
March 22, 1909  July 17, 1921
Preceded byRiding created
Succeeded byLawrence Peterson
Constituency
Personal details
Born
Archibald James McLean

(1860-09-25)September 25, 1860
Aldborough, Canada West
DiedOctober 13, 1933(1933-10-13) (aged 73)
Macleod, Alberta
Resting placeUnion Cemetery
49.73103°N 113.3875°W / 49.73103; -113.3875
Political partyLiberal (1910-1921)[4]
Other political
affiliations
Independent (1909-1910)[4]

Biography

Archibald McLean was born September 25, 1860, in Aldborough, Canada West, to James McLean and Clementine McMurchy.[5][7][8][9] His parents were both farmers.[5] In 1881, McLean moved west to Virden, Manitoba (aged 21).[5][7] While working, he learnt how to raise and handle livestock.[7] About 5 years later, McLean moved further west to the District of Alberta (now a province) from to work as a ranch hand and foreman.[7][8][9] His experience led him to a management position a year later at the CY Ranch of the Cypress Cattle Company, located near present-day Taber, Alberta.[9] With his help, it turned into one of the largest growers of cattle for export.[8][10] McLean later became the ranch's owner.

He married Margaret E. Duncan on December 15, 1904, in Hamilton, Ontario. Margaret died two years after giving birth to their only son.[5]

Edward, Prince of Wales, sitting on a corral fence with McLean and George Lane at the EP Ranch in October 1924.
Edward, Prince of Wales, sitting on a corral fence with McLean and George Lane at the EP Ranch in October 1924.

McLean then established his own cattle company in London to facilitate the sale and export of cattle throughout the British Isles. He sold the company in 1905.[9]

McLean was first elected as an Independent Liberal MLA for the Lethbridge constituency in the 1909 Alberta general election. His election to the legislature made him one of the first two independents elected in Alberta history, the other being Edward Michener. On June 1, 1910, he accepted an appointment by Premier Arthur Lewis Sifton to cross the floor to the government and join the cabinet to become the new Provincial Secretary. He was acclaimed in a ministerial by-election on June 22, 1910, and officially took over the position.[11] He served as minister of municipal affairs, and as minister of public works.[12]

McLean was re-elected to a second term, this time in the new Taber provincial electoral district in the 1913 Alberta general election. He defeated two other candidates in a landslide victory. McLean would be re-elected to his third and final term in the 1917 Alberta general election. The election was hotly contested but with Conservative candidate Thomas King providing a strong showing, but McLean still won with an 800-vote plurality. In the 1921 Alberta general election, he would run again attempting to win a fourth term in office and a fifth straight election but was defeated by candidate Lawrence Peterson from the United Farmers of Alberta in a tight race. After his loss, McLean left politics to return to ranching on the Piikani reserve.[9]

Archibald McLean died October 13, 1933, in Macleod, Alberta.[5][6] He was buried at the Union Cemetery in Macleod. McLean lived to the age of 73. His funeral had over 500 people in attendance,[7] and the Fort Macleod Gazette described his memorial service as being "probably the largest funeral ever held in southern Alberta".[8][13]

Legacy

References

Citations

  1. Alberta, Former Member 0034.
  2. Alberta, Former Member 0099.
  3. Alberta, Former Member 0030.
  4. Alberta, Former Member 0043.
  5. Foran, Max (2014). "McLEAN, ARCHIBALD JAMES". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. 16. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  6. "Death registrations from 19301934 M" (PDF). Provincial Archives of Alberta. p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  7. "Old timer dies Hon, A. J. McLean". High River Times. 19 October 1933. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  8. Tingley 2012, p. 20.
  9. Brennan 2001, pp. 26–27.
  10. "Alberta Gazette: Notice of Ministerial Appointments". Government of Alberta. June 1, 1910. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  11. Brennan 2001, p. 27.
  12. Brennan 2001, p. 28.

Bibliography

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