Daniel Hunter McMillan

Who was Daniel Hunter McMillan?

Sir Daniel Hunter McMillan, KCMG was a Manitoba politician. He was a cabinet minister in Thomas Greenway's government from 1889 to 1900, and served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1900 to 1911.

McMillan was born in Whitby, Canada West, and was educated there and at Collingwood. His initial career goal was to be a professional soldier. He saw active service on the Niagara frontier in 1864, and was involved in repelling a Fenian raid in 1866. In 1870, he served in the expedition of Col. Wolseley which ended the Red River Rebellion. He eventually became a Major in the 95th Battalion, and was promoted to a command position on June 17, 1887.

McMillan settled in Winnipeg following the Wolseley expedition, and became a successful businessman within the city. He established a milling and grain business in Winnipeg in 1874, and oversaw the first shipment of western Canadian wheat to Minneapolis shortly thereafter. He also served as the first president of the Winnipeg Grain Exchange for one year, served too as a Director and later Vice-President of the Great-West Life Assurance Company.

McMillan became politically active during this period. In 1879, he ran for the Manitoba legislature in the riding of Winnipeg against Thomas Scott, the leader of the opposition to John Norquay's government. Norquay was supported by both Liberals and Conservatives at the time, and McMillan was a prominent member of the Winnipeg Liberal community. Despite strong backing from the Manitoba Free Press, however, he lost to Scott by 387 votes to 321.