Samuel James Donaldson

Who was Samuel James Donaldson?

Samuel James Donaldson was a farmer, rancher, police officer and political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. He represented Prince Albert County and then Shellbrook in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1905 to 1915 as a Provincial Rights-Conservative MLA and Prince Albert in the Canadian House of Commons from 1915 to 1917 as a Conservative MP.

He was born in Appleton, Canada West, the son of Samuel Donaldson. After completing his education, he worked as a clerk in a furniture store in Ottawa. In 1876, joined the North-West Mounted Police and travelled west to Pelly, Saskatchewan. Donaldson was a member of the force from 1876 to 1882, serving in Battleford, Prince Albert and Qu'Appelle. He served as a captain in the Prince Albert Scouts during the North-West Rebellion. After he retired from the Mounted Police, he entered the livery business. In 1882, he married Jessie Paterson.

Donaldson served on the council for Prince Albert from 1889 to 1908 and was mayor from 1892 to 1894. He was elected to the House of Commons in an 1915 by-election held after James McKay was named to the bench.