Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Begg (1825-1905)

Journalist, civil servant, historian.

Not to be confused with Alexander Begg (1839-1897).

Born in Caithness, Scotland, Begg was a journalist in Upper Canada when he was appointed by William McDougall as collector of customs in the Manitoba government to be set up in 1870 under McDougall’s governorship. He spent the fall and winter of 1870 in Pembina waiting for Canada to take over Red River so that he could assume office. He returned to Ontario, later became Ontario’s immigration commissioner in Scotland, then British Columbia’s commissioner (1888-97), before moving to Victoria. In later years he wrote a number of histories of British Columbia.

Sources:

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 June 2012

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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