John A. Macdonald in Hallowell

Photo by Alan L Brown - May 24, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Prince Edward
In Picton on the north side of Main Street West between Ross Street and Elizabeth Street

Plaque Text

John A. Macdonald (1815-1891), who became Canada's first prime minister at Confederation, began the study of law in 1830 under George Mackenzie, a prominent Kingston lawyer. Three years later he came to Hallowell (now Picton) to manage the law practice of his cousin, Lowther P. Macpherson, who was in ill-health. During his stay here, Macdonald became the first secretary of the Prince Edward Young Men's Society in 1834 and servd as secretary of the Prince Edward District School Board. The latter position constituted his earliest experience in the field of public administration. Macdonald returned to Kingston in the summer of 1835 where he set up his own law practice.