Alexander Morris

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Alexander Morris

Alexander Morris , PC (born March 17, 1826 in Perth , Upper Canada , † October 28, 1889 in Toronto , Ontario ) was a Canadian politician and judge . He served in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Macdonald (1869–1872) and was the second lieutenant governor of the Province of Manitoba (1872–1877). He was also the first lieutenant governor of the Keewatin District within the Northwest Territories .

biography

The son of William Morris , a prominent Conservative politician in the Province of Canada , graduated from Madras College in the Scottish city ​​of St Andrews and studied at the University of Glasgow . After returning to Canada, he initially worked in a law firm in Montreal . In 1847 he moved to Kingston to work with Oliver Mowat in John Macdonald 's office. He finished his training at McGill University from 1851 he was admitted as a lawyer .

Morris was also active as a political writer. In 1855 he published Canada and its Resources , followed three years later by Nova Britannia: or, British North America, its extent and future . In the first book he called for the development of a national industry, in the second he foresaw a state in British North America and the construction of a transcontinental railroad. In 1880 he also wrote The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories including the Negotiations on which they were based , which is widely believed to be the main source of government interpretation of the Numbered Treaties . He was also involved in the Presbyterian community.

Morris ran successfully for election to the House of Commons of the Province of Canada in 1861. He campaigned for the Canadian Confederation and passed a law that banned public executions. In the first Canadian general election in September 1867, he took the seat in the Lanark South constituency for the Conservative Party , in the absence of opposing candidates by acclamation . Prime Minister John Macdonald appointed him to the federal cabinet in November 1869 and appointed him Minister for Domestic Taxes. For health reasons, he resigned in July 1872 and waived re-election.

Instead, Morris was appointed chairman of the Manitoba Provincial Supreme Court in October 1872 . As early as December 2, 1872, he was appointed lieutenant governor of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories . In the latter, where he was responsible until October 7, 1876, he campaigned for the formation of a police force (later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ) and negotiated four contracts with First Nations . In 1876 and 1877 he was the first lieutenant governor of the Keewatin District . The Manitoba government was still developing and Morris continued Archibald's practice of de facto head of government until 1874 . In 1877 he helped found the University of Manitoba .

Morris remained Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba until October 8, 1877, when he had assumed a more representative role towards the end. He strove to be re-elected to the House of Commons, but was defeated by nine votes to his opponent Donald Smith in the Selkirk constituency election in 1878 . Morris returned to Ontario and was elected to the Toronto East Constituency in December 1878 in the Ontario Legislative Assembly. In the provincial parliament he remained opposition leader until 1886.

Works

  • Canada and its Resources , 1855
  • Nova Britannia: or, British North America, its extent and future , 1858
  • The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories including the Negotiations on which they were based , Belfords, Clarke & Co., Toronto 1880; Reprinted 1991: Fifth House Publishers, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. ISBN 0-920079-83-0 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories. (No longer available online.) Www.goodminds.com, archived from the original on July 11, 2011 ; accessed on March 13, 2020 (English).
personal data
SURNAME Morris, Alexander
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian politician
DATE OF BIRTH March 17, 1826
PLACE OF BIRTH Perth , Upper Canada
DATE OF DEATH October 28, 1889
Place of death Toronto , Ontario