John Alexander MacDonald

Jack Macdonald

Jack was born in 1885. He was named after his grandfather, John Alexander Macdonald. Although Jack was young when his grandfather died, they did have a close relationship. When John A. was dying, Jack asked to speak to him and was granted that opportunity.

Jack was sick from a young age and by the time he was six, the family was forced to take a vacation to Banff to aid him in his recovery. In 1898, Gertie and Jack took a trip out East to Toronto and in 1902, when Jack was eighteen, Hugh and Gertie took him to England to see if the boat trip and the medical community could help him get better.

Although he was sick for much of his life, Jack still participated in many of the same activities as other children his age. He participated in the Winnipeg Rowing Club, competing in the Junior Four’s races held in 1901. In total he competed in three races that summer and in one race he won a pewter mug.

Not much is known about Jack’s education other than in 1899, when he was fourteen, Jack was placed into Upper Canada College in Toronto. He only spent one term at the school, where he lived as a boarder. Later, he studied to become a lawyer at the University of Manitoba.

On April 25, 1905, Jack died while Hugh was away at the time campaigning in a riding in Mountain. The funeral was held on April 28 at all Saints Church. Jack’s friends served as pallbearers. Jack was buried in St John’s Cathedral Cemetery.