Alfred Boyd
Encyclopedia
Alfred Boyd was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He is usually considered to have been the first Premier
of Manitoba (1870–1871), but he was not recognized by that title at the time and was not the real leader of the government. He is more correctly referred to as the first Provincial Secretary
of Manitoba. (Some modern sources list his official title as "Chief Minister
", but this does not appear in parliamentary documents from the period and is apparently a more recent invention.)
Boyd's origins are obscure. Born in England, he may have arrived in Rupert's Land
as early as 1858. He established himself as a merchant and trader in Red River Colony
, and appears to have become wealthy by the time of the 1869 Red River Rebellion
.
Boyd had little involvement in public life until January 1870, when he was elected for St. Andrew's to the "Convention of Forty" (a parliament called by Louis Riel
to decide the fate of the Red River Colony). Boyd refused to vote for Riel as the Convention's leader, and spoke in favour of territorial status (Riel favoured provincial status). Riel later referred to Boyd as an enemy.
With the end of the rebellion and the subsequent incorporation of Manitoba as a Canadian
province (July 15, 1870), Lt. Governor Adams George Archibald
(1870–1872) named Boyd as his Provincial Secretary
. Archibald considered Boyd to be acceptable to the French population of the province, as well as to its English-speaking "mixed-blood" Anglo-Metis
residents (i.e. persons of British and aboriginal descent). Boyd was elected for the riding of St. Andrew's North in Manitoba's first provincial election (December 27, 1870), defeating fellow government-supporter Donald Gunn
by 58 votes to 28.
Archibald chose his first full cabinet in January 1871. Boyd, now the Minister of Public Works and Minister of Agriculture, served with Marc-Amable Girard
, James McKay, Henry Hynes Clarke and Thomas Howard -- a cabinet which reflected the province's ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity. Archibald was the real Premier, frequently determining matters of policy without seeking advice from his ministers.
In office, Boyd faced many challenges from his constituents. He was criticised for inaction by new Ontario immigrants who were settling in the province, as there was a need for bridges and jails (among other things). He was also criticized by his constituents for supporting public works construction in the French-Canadian community of St. Boniface, and voting to incorporate the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Boniface. Faced with these pressures, Boyd resigned his position on December 9, 1871.
In resigning, Boyd called for "English mixed-blood" representation at the cabinet level. He was replaced by "mixed-blood" MLA John Norquay
, as such.
Boyd was appointed to the Temporary North-West Council
in 1872, and remained a member until the Council's dissolution . He briefly rejoined the Manitoba executive as the province's first Minister of Education
(March-October 1873). After resigning a second time, he did not seek re-election in 1874.
Boyd is thought to have left in 1889 for England
where he purchased several properties. By 1902, he was residing in Pimlico
and owned land in Essex
. On his death in 1908, his estate was valued at 83,000 pounds.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is usually considered to have been the first Premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
of Manitoba (1870–1871), but he was not recognized by that title at the time and was not the real leader of the government. He is more correctly referred to as the first Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
of Manitoba. (Some modern sources list his official title as "Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
", but this does not appear in parliamentary documents from the period and is apparently a more recent invention.)
Boyd's origins are obscure. Born in England, he may have arrived in Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
as early as 1858. He established himself as a merchant and trader in Red River Colony
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
, and appears to have become wealthy by the time of the 1869 Red River Rebellion
Red River Rebellion
The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...
.
Boyd had little involvement in public life until January 1870, when he was elected for St. Andrew's to the "Convention of Forty" (a parliament called by Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
to decide the fate of the Red River Colony). Boyd refused to vote for Riel as the Convention's leader, and spoke in favour of territorial status (Riel favoured provincial status). Riel later referred to Boyd as an enemy.
With the end of the rebellion and the subsequent incorporation of Manitoba as a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province (July 15, 1870), Lt. Governor Adams George Archibald
Adams George Archibald
Sir Adams George Archibald, KCMG, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as 1st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.Archibald was born in Truro to a prominent family in Nova...
(1870–1872) named Boyd as his Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
. Archibald considered Boyd to be acceptable to the French population of the province, as well as to its English-speaking "mixed-blood" Anglo-Metis
Anglo-Métis
A 19th-century community of the Métis people of Canada, the Anglo-Métis, more commonly known as Countryborn, were children of fur traders; they typically had Orcadian, Scottish, or English fathers and Aboriginal mothers. Their first languages were generally those of their mothers: Cree, Saulteaux,...
residents (i.e. persons of British and aboriginal descent). Boyd was elected for the riding of St. Andrew's North in Manitoba's first provincial election (December 27, 1870), defeating fellow government-supporter Donald Gunn
Donald Gunn
Donald Gunn was a Manitoba politician and member of the Province's Legislative Council ....
by 58 votes to 28.
Archibald chose his first full cabinet in January 1871. Boyd, now the Minister of Public Works and Minister of Agriculture, served with Marc-Amable Girard
Marc-Amable Girard
Marc-Amable Girard was the second Premier of the Western Canadian province of Manitoba, and the first Franco-Manitoban to hold that post. The Canadian Parliamentary Guide lists Girard as having been Premier from 1871 to 1872, but he did not have this title at the time and was not the government...
, James McKay, Henry Hynes Clarke and Thomas Howard -- a cabinet which reflected the province's ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity. Archibald was the real Premier, frequently determining matters of policy without seeking advice from his ministers.
In office, Boyd faced many challenges from his constituents. He was criticised for inaction by new Ontario immigrants who were settling in the province, as there was a need for bridges and jails (among other things). He was also criticized by his constituents for supporting public works construction in the French-Canadian community of St. Boniface, and voting to incorporate the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Boniface. Faced with these pressures, Boyd resigned his position on December 9, 1871.
In resigning, Boyd called for "English mixed-blood" representation at the cabinet level. He was replaced by "mixed-blood" MLA John Norquay
John Norquay
John Norquay was the Premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. He was born near St. Andrews in what was then the Red River Colony, making him the first Premier of Manitoba to have been born in the region....
, as such.
Boyd was appointed to the Temporary North-West Council
Temporary North-West Council
The Temporary North-West Council more formally known as the Council of the Northwest Territories and by its short name as the North-West Council lasted from the creation of Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1870 until it was dissolved in 1876...
in 1872, and remained a member until the Council's dissolution . He briefly rejoined the Manitoba executive as the province's first Minister of Education
Education in Canada
Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is within provincial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province. Education in Canada is generally divided into primary education, followed by...
(March-October 1873). After resigning a second time, he did not seek re-election in 1874.
Boyd is thought to have left in 1889 for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he purchased several properties. By 1902, he was residing in Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
and owned land in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. On his death in 1908, his estate was valued at 83,000 pounds.