About William McDonald
Lived 1837 – 1916 (aged 78). William McDonald was a Canadian politician, merchant and postmaster.
William McDonald (October 7, 1837 – July 4, 1916) was a Canadian politician.
Born at the Settlement of River Deny's Road, Inverness, Nova Scotia, the son of Mary McDonald and Allan McDonald, who emigrated from South Uist, Scotland, McDonald was educated at St. Francois Xavier College, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
A merchant, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for Cape Breton in the 1872 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1874, 1878, and 1882. In 1884, he was called to the Senate on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He served for almost 44 years as a member of parliament and senator until his death in 1916.
The intersection of Main, Union and Commercial streets in downtown Glace Bay is named "Senator's Corner" in his honour.
Electoral record
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
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in William McDonald's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William McDonald's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William McDonald?
Canadian politician (1837–1916)
When was William McDonald born?
William McDonald was born on 7 October 1837 in Inverness.
When did William McDonald die?
William McDonald died on 4 July 1916.
What was William McDonald's occupation?
William McDonald was a politician, merchant and postmaster.
What nationality was William McDonald?
William McDonald was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William McDonald (Canadian politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William McDonald. https://biography.guide/william-mcdonald/
MLA: "William McDonald." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-mcdonald/.
Chicago: "William McDonald." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-mcdonald/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:20 UTC