Angus MacLean
A Prince Edward Island farmer who brought his deep agricultural roots and quiet integrity to Canada's political landscape for over three decades.
1914–2000 (age 86)·Canadian politician·Birthday: May 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Angus MacLean's life was rooted in the red soil of Prince Edward Island, where he worked his family farm before the call to public service took hold. His political career began in 1951 with his election to the House of Commons, where he represented his island community for more than twenty years. Known for a straightforward, principled approach, he served in the cabinets of John Diefenbaker and Joe Clark, holding portfolios like Fisheries and Veterans Affairs. In 1979, he returned home to lead the Progressive Conservative party of PEI to victory, becoming Premier at age 65. His tenure, though brief, was marked by a fiscally conservative and pragmatic style that reflected his farmer's sensibility. After politics, he remained a respected elder statesman on the island until his death in 2000.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Angus was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Angus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2000Died at 86
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- Served as the 22nd Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1979 to 1981.
- Held multiple federal cabinet positions, including Minister of Fisheries and Minister of Veterans Affairs.
- Represented the riding of Queen's in the Canadian House of Commons for over 20 years.
- Led the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party to electoral victory in 1979.
Did You Know?
He was a decorated pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
Before politics, he was a successful fox farmer on Prince Edward Island.
He was the last Premier of PEI to have served in World War II.
His son, Joe MacLean, also became a politician in Prince Edward Island.
“A farm teaches you that real growth takes patience and good soil.”
