01/13/2026
Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, lived his final years at Earnscliffe, a majestic Victorian manor nestled on the cliffs above the Ottawa River.
It was in his bed at Earnscliffe where Macdonald's eventful life would eventually come to an end in 1891.
Earnscliffe, now home to the British High Commission, was one of the several residences in Ottawa where Macdonald would take refuge during his turbulent decades as the first leader of our brand new nation.
Macdonald's only daughter Mary suffered from the debilitations of hydrocephalus and so he had a special landing customized at Earnscliffe so that Mary could enjoy observing special events from the upper floor.
Sir John A. Macdonald was born January 11, 1815.
Honouring the memory of Sir John A. Macdonald is complicated — as it is with so many important figures of our past.
While the Canada in which we take great pride would probably not exist in its present form if not for the "old chieftain", Macdonald's name is gradually disappearing from various schools and landmarks across the country.
Macdonald's tenure was rocked by financial scandals.
We also look back at tragic decisions his government made impacting Indigenous peoples.
Additionally, Macdonald's legacy might not have been possible without financial support that came as a result of family connections to slavery in the British West Indies.
History is complicated.
Today, despite the abundant flaws or our country's first prime minister, we mark the 211th birthday of a crucial player in the founding of our nation — Sir John A. Macdonald.
"Sir John A. Macdonald Day" on January 11 was proclaimed by act of parliament in 2002, along with "Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day", on November 20 every year.
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James Powell recounts the death of Sir John A:
https://todayinottawashistory.wordpress.com/2023/11/25/the-death-of-sir-john-a-macdonald
