First Prime Minister

In 1867, Conservative Party's John Alexander Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister. Born in Scotland on January 11, 1815, he came to Upper Canada as a child.

A lawyer from Kingston, Ontario, Macdonald was a controversial personality. Today many recognize him for his prejudiced and racist views, especially those that attribute him to mass starving of the aboriginal people to death, discriminating against Asian immigrants, among others. For example, he called the Chinese a "semi-barbaric, inferior race".

Macdonald, nevertheless, has been knighted by the British Empire and given the title of "Sir". Not only that, the Parliament of Canada has marked January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day. To honour him further, his portrait is printed on the $10 bill.

Macdonald is often cited along side Sir George-Étienne Cartier, who was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec. A railway lawyer from Montrealer and a close ally of Macdonald, Cartier led Quebec into Confederation and took part for the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and British Columbia into Canada.