Archibald McLelan

Archibald Woodbury McLelan PC (20 December 1824 – 26 June 1890) was a Canadian shipbuilder and politician, the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

The Honourable Archibald McLelan PC
The Hon. Archibald McLelan
6th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
In office 9 July 1888 – 26 June 1890
Monarch	Victoria
Governor General	The Lord Stanley of Preston
Premier	William S. Fielding
Preceded by	Matthew Henry Richey
Succeeded by	Malachy Bowes Daly
Personal details
Born	Archibald Woodbury McLelan (1824-12-20)20 December 1824 Londonderry, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	26 June 1890(1890-06-26) (aged 65) Halifax, Nova Scotia
Political party	Anti-Confederate Liberal-Conservative
Spouse	Caroline Metzler ​ (m. 1842)​
Relations	Gloud Wilson McLelan (father)
Alma mater	Mount Allison University
Occupation	lumber merchant and shipbuilder
Profession	Politician
Cabinet	Presidents of the Privy Council (1881–1882) Ministers of Marine and Fisheries (1882–1885) Minister of Finance (1885–1887) Postmaster General (1887–1888)

McLelan was born in Londonderry, Nova Scotia, the son of member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly member Gloud Wilson McLelan. Archibald McLelan was educated in Great Village and joined his father's shipping and retail business. On his father's death in 1858 he succeeded him in the House of Assembly.

Strongly opposed to confederation with Canada, McLelan was elected as the first federal member of parliament for Colchester as an Anti-Confederate.

He reconciled himself to Confederation and was summoned to the Senate of Canada in 1869 where he sat as a Liberal-Conservative.

He resigned from the Upper House to run again for the House of Commons of Canada in an 1881 by-election and was returned to parliament as a Conservative.

McLelan served from 10 December 1885–26 January 1887 as the Minister of Finance in the second administration of Sir John A. Macdonald.

In 1842, he married Caroline Metzler. McLelan died in Halifax at the age of 65.

Electoral record

1867 Canadian federal election: Colchester
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Anti-Confederation	Archibald McLelan	1,649
	Liberal–Conservative	Adams George Archibald	1,289
Source: Canadian Elections Database

1872 Canadian federal election: Colchester
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Frederick M. Pearson	1,634
	Unknown	J.F. Blanchard	1,209
Source: Canadian Elections Database

By-election on 18 June 1881 On Thomas McKay's resignation in June 1881
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Archibald McLelan	1,802
	Independent	Charles N. Cummings	1,374

1882 Canadian federal election: Colchester
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Archibald McLelan	1,887
	Unknown	F.A. Laurence	1,452

1887 Canadian federal election: Colchester
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Archibald McLelan	2,446
	Liberal	Samuel David McLelland	1,819

By-election on 27 October 1887 On Mr. McLelan being un-seated for bribery by agents
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Archibald McLelan	2,137
	Liberal	Samuel David McLelland	1,511

References

• "Archibald McLelan". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Archibald McLelan – Parliament of Canada biography