Sir Mackenzie Bowell (1823-1917)

and

Sir Mackenzie Bowell, K.C.M.G. 1823-1917

There are two plaques about this gentleman in The City of Belleville.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photos by contributor Colin Old - Posted January, 2012

Plaque Location

The County of Hastings
The City of Belleville
On the face of a cairn in a small parkette
on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Pinnacle Streets.

Coordinates: N 44 09.480 W 77 22.803

Plaque Text

Born in England, this printer and publisher represented North Hastings in Parliament from 1867 to 1892, and thereafter held a seat in the Senate until 1917. He served in the cabinets of Macdonald, Abbott, and Thompson, and became Prime Minister in 1894. Past Grand Master of the Orange Lodge in British North America, he nevertheless proposed to the House of Commons in 1896, remedial action that would settle the Manitoba Schools Question. In that same year, division within his cabinet and disenchantment with his leadership forced his resignation. He died in Belleville.

Sir Mackenzie Bowell, K.C.M.G. 1823-1917

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Photo Source - Canadian Heritage Gallery

Plaque Location

The County of Hastings
The City of Belleville
At 194 William Street, on the west side
2nd building south of Bridge Street

Coordinates: N 44 09.892 W 77 22.632

Plaque Text

The fifth Prime Minister of Canada, Bowell was born in Suffolk, England and came to Belleville with his parents in 1833. Apprenticed as a printer at the Intelligencer, he advanced quickly, becoming the newspaper's editor and proprietor by 1850. Bowell also gained prominence in the Orange Order, a formidable political force in 19th century Canada, and was elected to the first Dominion Parliament in 1867 as Conservative member for North Hastings. During a long and distinguished public career in which he represented this area for 25 years, Bowell held various ministerial posts. Following the sudden death of Sir John Thompson, he served as Prime Minister (1894-1896). Knighted in 1895, Bowell devoted his final years to journalistic and business activities in Belleville.

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted July 1, 2012
This is my Great, Great, Great Grandfather. You have some good info!

Posted January 7, 2012
It's good to see the federal plaque replaced. Prior to that, the cairn had been chipped away to remove it, a scar now healed. I wonder if the previous plaque was the handsome old fashioned type, with gilded frame. It would be a shame to see that melted down. They're treasures in themselves. This new one adds "and Parks Canada" to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board name, at bottom. Bowell is buried in Belleville Cemetery, marked by another HSMB plaque, part of a nationwide commemoration program for the grave sites of prime ministers.
-Wayne

Posted December 7, 2009
As of August 2009, this plaque was still missing. This is rare for Ontario, but I was shocked on a recent visit to Quebec to visit national historic sites. No fewer than ELEVEN were missing! Considering the effort needed to hunt each one down (I'm not aware of a site equivalent to this for other provinces), you can imagine the frustration at finding a blank cairn or stone. But what an effort to carry them off. Parks staff say it's for the value of the metal. In Quebec, at least, it looks like an organized effort. So sad. -Wayne

Posted June 19, 2009
That would sure take some effort to pry the plaque out the concrete. The metal can't be worth that much, can it? Unbelievable what some people will do.

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