Matthew McCauley (politician)
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| Matthew McCauley | |
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| In office February 10, 1892 – January 14, 1895 |
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| Preceded by | New Town |
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| Succeeded by | Herbert Charles Wilson |
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Alderman on the Edmonton Town Council
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| In office January 13, 1896 – December 14, 1896 |
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| In office November 4, 1898 – May 21, 1902 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Oliver |
| Succeeded by | Richard Secord |
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MLA for Vermillion
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| In office November 9, 1905 – March 22, 1909 |
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| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | James Bismark Holden |
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| Born | July 11, 1850 Owen Sound, Ontario |
| Died | October 25, 1930 (aged 80) Sexsmith, Alberta |
| Political party | Alberta Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Matilda Benson (8 children) |
| Profession | Businessman |
Matthew McCauley (July 11, 1850, Owen Sound, Ontario - October 25, 1930, Sexsmith, Alberta) was the first mayor of the city of Edmonton, and a member of the legislative assemblies of both the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
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[edit] Early life
McCauley was born July 11, 1850 in Owen Sound, Ontario, and spent his early adult years as a farmer. He moved to Winnipeg in 1871. There he married Matilda Benson and fathered eight children before moving to a farm east of Fort Saskatchewan in 1879. Political unrest drove him to move to Edmonton in 1881, where he founded the settlement's first livery and cartage business, Edmonton Cartage Company, which (among other activities) operated a stage coach to St. Albert.
[edit] Edmonton politics
Almost immediately after settling in Edmonton, McCauley co-founded the Edmonton Public School District and was instrumental in raising funds for its first school. He was the first chair of its board of trustees, and would sit on the board until 1901.
In 1882, McCauley was head of a group of vigilantes which took action against claim jumpers. In one notorious incident, the group pushed a shack that American settler J L George had erected on land claimed by Edmontonian Richard Hardisty to the brink of the North Saskatchewan River valley - with George still inside. When the American emerged, the group sent his shack tumbling into the river at a spot which became known as "Vigilinates' Depository". For his leadership of the group, McCauley was fined $40 and ordered to replaced the lumber of the houses he had destroyed by the Northwest Mounted Police.
In 1889, McCauley co-founded (with Frank Oliver and John Alexander McDougall) the Edmonton Board of Trade, forerunner to the Chamber of Commerce.
When Edmonton held its first election in 1892, McCauley was acclaimed as mayor. He was re-acclaimed in 1893 and 1894 before stepping aside voluntarily after his third term, never having contested an election. During his term as mayor, the Canadian government decided to move the Dominion Land Office from Edmonton to Strathcona, which was then a separate community. Angry Edmontonians descended on the office and tore to pieces the wagon that the officer was packing with records for transportation, and McCauley persuaded the government to relent.
In 1896, McCauley sought election to Town Council once again, this time as alderman. He was easily elected, finishing first of eight candidates in an election in which the top six were elected. He served a single term, and did not seek re-election the following election.
[edit] Territorial and provincial politics
In 1896, McCauley was elected to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly for the riding of Edmonton without party affiliation. He served in this capacity until 1902, when he was defeated.
In 1901, McCauley sold Edmonton Cartage Company and used the proceeds to buy one thousand acres (4 km²) of farmland in Tofield, Alberta, where he farmed until returning to Edmonton in 1905. While in Tofield, he married Annie Cookson - his first wife, Matilda, had died in 1896 - with whom he had four children, bringing his total to twelve.
Upon returning to Edmonton, McCauley was elected as a Liberal member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the riding of Vermillion in the province's first general election. He resigned the following year to become the first warden of the Edmonton Penitentiary.
[edit] Later years, death, and legacy
McCauley served as warden until 1912, when he moved to the Okanagan valley and bought an apple orchard. He spend thirteen years as an apple farmer before moving to Sexsmith, Alberta, where he died in 1930.
Edmonton's McCauley neighbourhood is named for him. His great-grandson Matthew McCauley is an award winning record producer and composer.
[edit] Links
- Biography of Matthew McCauley in Real Estate Weekly
- Edmonton Public Library Biography of McCauley
- City of Edmonton biography of McCauley
- History of Alberta's early schools
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by New Position |
Mayor of Edmonton 1892-1894 |
Succeeded by Herbert Charles Wilson |
| Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories | ||
| Preceded by Herbert Charles Wilson Frank Oliver |
MLA Edmonton 1896-1902 |
Succeeded by Richard Secord |
| Legislative Assembly of Alberta | ||
| Preceded by New District |
MLA Vermillion 1905-1906 |
Succeeded by James Bismark Holden |
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