MACKENZIE, ALEXANDER (1822-1892), Canadian statesman, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, on Jan. 28, 1822. He emigrated to Canada in 1842, and later worked in Ontario as a stone-mason, later becoming a builder and contractor at Sarnia with his brother. In 1852 his interest in ques tions of reform led to his becoming the editor of the Lambton Shield, a local Liberal paper. In 1861 he became a member of the Canadian parliament, where he at once made his mark and was closely connected with the liberal leader, George Brown. He was elected for Lambton to the first Dominion house of com mons in 1867, and soon became the leader of the liberal opposi tion; from 1871 to 1872 he also sat in the Ontario provincial assembly, and held the position of provincial treasurer. In 1873 on the defeat of Sir John Macdonald's ministry Mackenzie formed a new Government, taking the portfolio of public works and becoming the first liberal premier of Canada. He remained in
power till 1878, when industrial depression enabled Macdonald to return to office on a protectionist programme. In 1875 Mac kenzie paid a visit to Great Britain, and was received at Windsor by Queen Victoria; he declined knighthood. In 188o he resigned the leadership of the opposition owing to failing health, but he retained a seat in parliament till his death at Toronto on April 17, 1892. While perhaps too cautious to be the ideal leader of a young and vigourous community, his grasp of detail, industry, and integrity won him the respect even of his opponents.
See W. Buckingham and the Hon. George W. Ross, Alexander Mackenzie, His Life and Times (Toronto, 1892) ; G. Stewart, Canada under the Administration of the Earl of Dufferin (Toronto, 1878).