Robert Macaulay

Robert William Macaulay (May 25, 1921 – August 17, 2010) was a Canadian politician.

Background Macaulay was born in Toronto in 1921 to Hazel and Leopold Macaulay. His father served as an MPP and a cabinet minister in the government of George Henry in the 1930s. He attended Upper Canada College before enlisting in the army during World War II where he served with the 48th Highlanders. After the war, he studied at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in law from Osgoode Hall. He was called to the bar in 1948 and worked in the field for over 50 years. He and his wife Joy raised two children.

Politics Macaulay was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Toronto riding of Riverdale in the 1951 Ontario election. He was re-elected three times and served for 13 years.

In 1958, Premier of Ontario Leslie Frost appointed him to the cabinet as minister without portfolio with responsibilities in the Treasury Board. He was also appointed as a vice-chairman of Ontario Hydro. In 1959, he was promoted to the new position of Minister of Energy Resources.

When Frost retired, Macaulay ran to succeed him in the 1961 Progressive Conservative leadership convention finishing third on the fifth ballot. The victor, John Robarts, made Macaulay his Minister of Economics and Development. Macaulay retained his seat in the 1963 Ontario election, but he resigned from cabinet shortly afterwards citing health reasons. He remained in the legislature until May 1964 when he resigned his seat and returned to private life.

Cabinet positions