Archibald Peter McNab
Encyclopedia
Archibald Peter "Archie" McNab (May 29, 1864 - April 29, 1945) was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
from 1936 until 1945. He was the last lieutenant governor
of the province to live in Government House
.
He was born in Glengarry County, Ontario
and moved to Winnipeg
in 1882 with his twin brother before establishing a homestead
in Virden, Manitoba
.
Years of drought
forced him to give up farming and in 1887 he became a grain buyer for Ogilvie Flour Mills.
In 1902, the company transferred him to Rosthern, Saskatchewan
where he invested in two grain elevators. After selling them he moved to Saskatoon
with his wife and children and established the Dominion Elevator Company. He also helped found the Saskatchewan Central Railway Company and the Saskatchewan Power Company.
He entered politics and was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in the 1908 general election
as a Liberal
MLA representing Saskatoon City
. In government, he was appointed commissioner of municipal affairs and became Minister of Public Works in 1912. One of his accomplishements was helping acquire the University of Saskatchewan
for Saskatoon
.
McNab retired from the legislature when he was appointed to the local government board in 1926 but was forced to resign in 1930 due to allegations of impropriety.
In 1936, he was appointed lieutenant governor. As provincial viceroy
he hosted King George VI
and Queen Elizabeth at Government House during their 1939 royal visit to Canada.
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was elected to government in the 1944 general election
and closed Government House in September 1944 as an austerity measure making McNab its last occupant.
In ill health, he resigned as lieutenant governor on February 26, 1945. He died of pneumonia two months later.
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
from 1936 until 1945. He was the last lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the province to live in Government House
Government House (Saskatchewan)
Government House, Regina, Saskatchewan, was constructed as a residence for the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories, whose territorial headquarters were in Regina until the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were created out of the Territories in 1905 and Regina became the capital...
.
He was born in Glengarry County, Ontario
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
and moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1882 with his twin brother before establishing a homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
in Virden, Manitoba
Virden, Manitoba
Virden, Manitoba is a town in southwestern Manitoba. Oil was first discovered in 1951, and Virden has since come to be known as the "Oil Capital of Manitoba"....
.
Years of drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
forced him to give up farming and in 1887 he became a grain buyer for Ogilvie Flour Mills.
In 1902, the company transferred him to Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern is a town at the juncture of Highway 11 and Highway 312 in the central area of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located roughly halfway between the cities of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.-History:...
where he invested in two grain elevators. After selling them he moved to Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
with his wife and children and established the Dominion Elevator Company. He also helped found the Saskatchewan Central Railway Company and the Saskatchewan Power Company.
He entered politics and was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in the 1908 general election
Saskatchewan general election, 1908
The Saskatchewan general election of 1908 was the second provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on August 14, 1908 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Premier Walter Scott and his Liberal Party were re-elected for a second term, defeating...
as a Liberal
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
MLA representing Saskatoon City
Saskatoon City (provincial electoral district)
Saskatoon City was a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. This constituency existed from 1908 to 1967. It was the riding of Premier James T.M...
. In government, he was appointed commissioner of municipal affairs and became Minister of Public Works in 1912. One of his accomplishements was helping acquire the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
for Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
.
McNab retired from the legislature when he was appointed to the local government board in 1926 but was forced to resign in 1930 due to allegations of impropriety.
In 1936, he was appointed lieutenant governor. As provincial viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
he hosted King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen Elizabeth at Government House during their 1939 royal visit to Canada.
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was elected to government in the 1944 general election
Saskatchewan general election, 1944
The Saskatchewan general election of 1944 was the tenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 15, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
and closed Government House in September 1944 as an austerity measure making McNab its last occupant.
In ill health, he resigned as lieutenant governor on February 26, 1945. He died of pneumonia two months later.