Stone by Stone: The Prime Minister who built Canada

Did you know that Canada's second Prime Minister was a stonemason who had a hand in building several of the country's buildings and canals? Even though his role in construction is less known than his leadership of the country from 1873 to 1878, many of his projects are now national historic sites.

On January 28, 1822, Alexander Mackenzie was born in Logierait, Scotland. At 13 years of age, the young boy left school to work following the death of his father, and at 16 he apprenticed as a stonemason. Even after leaving school, he read widely on history, politics, science, literature and philosophy. In 1842, he moved to Canada with the family of his sweetheart, Helen Neil, and settled in Kingston, Ontario.

Mackenzie quickly developed a reputation as a skilled and reliable worker and in 1843, he worked as a stonemason to build a bombproof arch at Fort Henry. Originally part of a larger defense programme following the War of 1812, Fort Henry was completed in 1836 to protect Kingston and the southern end of the new Rideau Canal. The fort was garrisoned until 1890 and served as a prison during the rebellions of 1837-38 and during both the First and Second World Wars. Locally, the fort was part of a wider fortifications system which provided interconnecting fields of fire covering the Kingston Harbour. Fort Henry was restored and opened to the public in the 20^th century. It was designated as a national historic site in 1923, in part for the skilled masonry and craftsmanship evident in its construction. The Rideau Canal is also one of Canada's World Heritage Sites.

In addition to Fort Henry, Mackenzie worked on other aspects of the Kingston defensive system including as foreman for the construction of four Martello Towers. Martello towers are round stone structures distinctive to British defensive systems constructed during the 19^th century. One of these towers, Cathcart Tower on Cedar Island, was built by a team supervised by Mackenzie between 1846 and 1848. Sadly, 17 of Mackenzie's men died while returning from work when their overcrowded boat capsized during stormy weather. As a result, that part of Lake Ontario has since been known as "Deadman's Bay". Fort Fredrick Martello Towers are part of the Kingston Fortifications, which was designated a national historic site in 1989.

In 1844, Mackenzie worked on several canals during the great era of canal building in North America that preceded the arrival of the railway. Canals facilitated the transport of people and goods into and out of the growing colonies. The Beauharnois Canal, built in 1843, on the St. Lawrence River near Montréal allowed boats to pass around the Cascades, Cedar and Coteau rapids. Mackenzie supervised men cutting stone for locks at Beauharnois in 1844. Canal building was dangerous work and many were injured. While working on the Beauharnois Canal, a large stone fell on Mackenzie's leg, leaving him unable to work for serveral months. The entrances of the old Beauharnois Canal are recognized for their heritage value by the Province of Québec. In 1899, this canal was replaced by the Soulanges Canal, the building of which is a national historic event. Mackenzie was also employed in the construction of the Welland Canal, located in southwestern Ontario connecting Lake Erie with Lake Ontario. This canal, first buit between 1829-33, has been rebuilt and expanded a number of times over the years. During the winter of 1844, Mackenzie cut sones at a quarry on Wolfe Ilsand near Kingston for the Welland Canal. The building of this canal was an incredible construction feat in its time and has been designated a national historic event. In 1847, Mackenzie was a foreman during the construction of another canal, the Lachine Canal in the Montréal basin. The Lachine Canal was designated a National Historic Site in 1929.

After marrying Helen in 1845, the couple moved to Port Sarnia (now Sarnia) in 1847, where Mackenzie's brother had recently immigrated. Together, the brothers started a construction business called "Mackenzie Builders." They built churches, banks, jails, and courthouses across southern Ontario. The Essex County Courthouse, known as Mackenzie Hall today, is one surviving example. Located in Windsor (formerly Sandwich), it is an impressive building constructed in the Victorian Classical Revival style. It is a prominent feature in Windsor and now serves as a community cultural centre. Mackenzie Hall is recognized for its heritage value by the Province of Ontario.

The Mackenzie brothers also submitted an application to build the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Instead, the contract was given to Thomas Fuller. Today the Parliament Buildings and the Public Grounds of the Parliament Buildings are national historic sites.

Mackenzie became active in the Port Sarnia community and was elected to Ontario's legislative assembly and then, in 1867, to the first Canadian Parliament. He officially became the leader of the Liberal Party in 1873. Shortly thereafter, John A. Macdonald's Conservative government fell and Mackenzie became both Canada's second Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works.

During his time as Minister of Public Works, the Library of Parliament was completed and the West Block expanded. Initially built in 1865 to house the civil service, a second wing was added to the West Block between 1874 and 1878. Mackenzie showed a keen interest in its construction. He even added a secret spiral staircase from his office in the new wing allowing him to leave without having to pass the patronage seekers waiting in the antechamber. Today, the tower surmounting West Block is one of the best preserved features of the building and is named Mackenzie Tower. Before the Peace Tower was built, Mackenzie Tower was the tallest building in the parliamentary precinct.

Mackenzie established the  Military College of Canada in 1874 (subsequently renamed the Royal Military College RMC in 1878) to train Canadian officers and the first classes started in 1876. While inspecting Fort Frederick in 1875, Mackenzie asked teh Commandant if he knew the thickness of the exterior wall of a Martello Tower built in 1846. When he was unable to anser, Mackenzie said "It's 5 feet 6 inches - I know for I built it myself". Named in his honour, the Mackenzie Building at RMC was the first purpose built structure for the college. The building is marked by a distinctive four story tower and is part of the Point Frederick Buildings National Historic Site.

The Liberal Party lost the 1878 election and two years later Mackenzie gave up the party's leadership. However, he continued to sit in the House of Commons as an undefeated MP, representing the riding of Lambton and later East York, until his death in 1892 at 70 years of age. He was offered a knighthood on three occasions, but, true to his working class origins, declined each time. He is remembered for leading the government that ushered in landmark changes to the practice of Canadian democracy including the introduction of the secret ballot to federal elections and the official recording of the House of Commons debates. During his earlier political career, he worked tirelessly to build support for Reformers, especially George Brown and his proposals for Confederation, before distinguishing himself in the House of Commons after 1867. Alexander Mackenzie may have achieved the highest political office in the country but he began his career as a labourer. Some of the construction projects that benefitted from Mackenzie's skill as a builder and stonemason have been recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as nationally significant, including Fort Henry, the Kingston Fortifications, and the Parliament Buildings.