John Chester MacRae

Who was John Chester MacRae?

John Chester "Chet" MacRae MC was a Canadian school teacher, soldier, and politician. Known by his second name, Chester, he was widely referred to as "Chet."

Born in Hope Town, Quebec, MacRae lived most of his life in the Province of New Brunswick. He graduated from High School in Campbellton, New Brunswick then attended the provincial Normal School in Fredericton. He taught in the public school system until 1940.

A veteran of World War II, serving in the Canadian Army he rose to the rank of Captain in New Brunswick's North Shore Regiment and participated in the D-Day Normandy Landings in France. He was awarded a number of medals including the Military Cross. In later years he was appointed an honorary Colonel of the First Battalion Royal New Brunswick Regiment, the Carleton-York regiment.

MacRae was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1957 as the Progressive Conservative Party's candidate in the York-Sunbury riding. He was re-elected in 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1968. He served until September 1, 1972.

He died at a Fredericton hospital in 1997.