John Michael Macdonald

Who was John Michael Macdonald?

John Michael Macdonald was a Canadian politician.

Born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, the son of Joseph Macdonald and Theresa MacDonald, he was educated at St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1945. He practised law with his father and with Ronald J. Macdonald. During World War II, Macdonald served with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and with the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.

He ran unsuccessfully as the National Government candidate for the Canadian House of Commons in the riding of Cape Breton North and Victoria in the 1940 election and 1945 election. In 1956, he was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the electoral district of Cape Breton North.

Summoned to the Senate of Canada in 1960 representing the senatorial division of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, a Progressive Conservative, he was twice Opposition Whip in the Senate and was Government Whip in the Senate.

Macdonald died in North Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1997; at the time of his death, he was the last senator to serve in the senate past the age of 75, and one of the last senators appointed for life serving in the Senate.