Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › James McKay
Portrait of James McKay

James McKay

1862 – 1931

Canadian politician and judge

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About James McKay

Lived 1862 – 1931 (aged 69). James McKay was a Canadian politician, judge and lawyer.

James McKay (July 12, 1862 – December 1, 1931) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. He represented Prince Albert in the House of Commons of Canada from 1911 to 1914 as a Conservative.

Career He was born at Fort Ellice in Rupert's Land, the son of William McKay and Mary Cook, and was educated there, in Westbourne and at St. John's College at the University of Manitoba. While at St. John's, he won, in 1877, the Dufferin Bronze Medal for Ancient and Modern History. McKay articled in law and was called to the Manitoba bar in 1886. While a law student, he served in C Company of the Winnipeg Rifles during the North-West Rebellion.

McKay practised law in Winnipeg and, after 1887, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was a crown prosecutor from 1888 to 1897. In 1891, he was named King's Counsel. He married Florence Annie Reid in 1900.

McKay was an unsuccessful candidate for the Saskatchewan (Provisional District) seat in the House of Commons in 1896, losing to Wilfrid Laurier, and also ran unsuccessfully in Prince Albert in 1908 before taking the seat in the 1911 federal election. McKay resigned his seat in the House of Commons in 1914 after he was named to the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan. In 1918, he was named to the Court of King's Bench and, in 1921, to the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan. McKay also served on the board of governors for the University of Saskatchewan.

Electoral record

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Saskatchewan
Awards
Dufferin Medal

People in James McKay's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James McKay's

Frequently asked questions

Who was James McKay?

Canadian politician and judge (1862-1931)

When was James McKay born?

James McKay was born on 12 July 1862.

When did James McKay die?

James McKay died on 1 December 1931.

What was James McKay's occupation?

James McKay was a politician, judge and lawyer.

What nationality was James McKay?

James McKay was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James McKay

· Wikidata: Q6139413

· DBpedia: James McKay (Canadian politician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James McKay. https://biography.guide/james-mckay-politician/

MLA: "James McKay." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-mckay-politician/.

Chicago: "James McKay." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-mckay-politician/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:11 UTC