Memorable Manitobans: John Sutherland (1821-1899)

Farmer, Senator.

Born at Point Douglas on 21 August 1821, the only son of Alexander Sutherlandand Catherine McPherson. In 1847 he married Janet MacBeth. They had fourteen children, among whom were Donald Sutherland, Morrison Sutherland, Hector Sutherland, James Sutherland, Roderick Ross Sutherland, Alexander M. Sutherland, William Robert Douglas Sutherland, Angus Sutherland, John H. Sutherland (?-1870), and daughter Catherine who married William Ross Black.

He was educated at St. John’s College. Following the flood of 1852 he moved to Lot 86, East Kildonan, where he farmed and operated a general store. He entered public life in 1866 as a member of the Council of Assiniboia and attended twelve meetings before the Council was dissolved. During the Red River disturbance of 1869-70 he became one of the leading representatives of the Loyalist party and served as delegate from Kildonan at the Council of Forty meeting in 1870. His son Hugh was killed in February 1870 by Norbert Parisien. That same month, he was chosen Collector of Customs by the Provisional Government, and when the Province entered Confederation (15 July 1870) he was appointed the first High Sheriff of Manitoba. He held this office until 13 December 1871, when he was appointed to the Canadian Senate, a position he held until his death. He helped found Manitoba College.

Sutherland was one of the leading spirits in the educational life of Kildonan and one of the founders of Manitoba College. He died at his residence “Bellevue House”, Kildonan, on 27 April 1899. He was survived by his widow, seven sons and two daughters.

There are papers at the Archives of Manitoba.

Sources:

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by J. M. Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 20 March 2011

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