Allan MacNab
A brash, ambitious soldier and speculator who helped push Canada toward railways and responsible government, embodying its turbulent pre-Confederation era.
1798–1862 (age 64)·Political leader in Upper Canada and the Province of Canada·Birthday: February 19
Biography
Allan MacNab was a man of colossal appetites and ambitions, a Loyalist's son determined to build his own empire in Upper Canada. He first made his name as a young militia officer in the War of 1812 and the rebellions of 1837, where his aggressive tactics earned him a knighthood. Politics and land speculation were his true battlegrounds, however. He amassed huge estates, most famously building the grand Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, and used his wealth to wield power. As a political leader, he was a staunch Tory, but his pragmatism led him to form the Liberal-Conservative coalition with John A. Macdonald. His greatest passion was for railways, seeing them as the future; he championed the Great Western Railway, a project that knitted the province together but also mired him in controversy.
#1 When Allan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1798
Allan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1798Born
1803Started school
1811Became a teenager
1814Could drive
1816Could vote
1819Turned 21
1828Turned 30
1838Turned 40
1848Turned 50
1858Turned 60
1862Died at 64
President: Abraham Lincoln
Key Achievements
- Served as joint Premier of the Province of Canada from 1854 to 1856, leading a coalition government.
- Spearheaded the construction of the Great Western Railway, a critical infrastructure project in pre-Confederation Canada.
- Commanded troops during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, for which he was knighted.
- Built Dundurn Castle, a monumental estate in Hamilton that symbolized his wealth and influence.
Did You Know?
He was the first Canadian-born person to be created a baronet.
MacNab was a Master Mason and served as the Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Canada.
His daughter married William Coutts Keppel, who later became the 7th Earl of Albemarle, linking the family to British aristocracy.
Despite his conservative politics, he once famously declared 'All my politics are railroads.'
“Responsible government is a fine idea, but someone must first keep order.”
