Ewan Alexander MacPherson [McPherson] (1878-1954)

Lawyer, MLA (1914-1915), MLA (1916-1920), MP (1926-1930), MLA (1933-1936).

Born in Worth County, Missouri, 1878, son of Peter MacPherson and Ellen Wallace, he was educated at Portage la Prairie, a schoolmate of T. A. Crerar. The family came to Manitoba in 1879 and settled at Portage la Prairie. MacPherson was articled in law to S. R. Wright and Edward Anderson, and called to Manitoba Bar in 1903. He practiced for a time with Arthur Meighen then took over the practice of Judge MacDonald in 1906. He formed partnerships with A. C. Williams (killed in France), E. P. Garland, and E. G. Porter. He was appointed a King’s Counsel in 1916. He served as a Bencher for the Law Society of Manitoba.

On 26 October 1904, he married Winnifred M. Finn, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.

He served as an alderman of the city of Portage la Prairie in 1906. He first ran for public office in 1910. Over the next 15 years he contested seven elections, winning four. He was elected to the Manitoba Legislature, 1914-15; defeated, 1920. In 1926, he defeated Arthur Meighen to become Liberal MP for Portage la Prairie.

In 1932 he became provincial treasurer in the Bracken government, and was famous for not saying anything in the legislature. He was named chief justice of the Court of King’s Bench in 1937, and was chief justice of Manitoba from 1944 to 1954. He was also chairman of the Winnipeg Foundation. In 1948, the University of Manitoba awarded him an honorary doctorate.

He died at Kenora, Ontario on 18 November 1954.

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Profile revised: 31 January 2010

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