Marion Adams Macpherson
Encyclopedia
Marion Macpherson was the first child of Penelope (Annie) Adams and John MacPherson and grew up in Moosomin, Saskatchewan
. Her father was a second-generation Scottish Canadian whose parents left their home in the Outer Hebrides
(South Uist, Northern Isles) to settle in the Moosomin area of south east Saskatchewan
. Her mother was from the same Hebridean
region but had attended the University of Glasgow
, from which she received a Master of Arts
degree in the early 20th century before continuing on to a teaching career. Marion had two younger siblings: Joanne MacPherson of Regina
and CWE MacPherson, the Managing and Associate Editor of the Ottawa Citizen.
After studies at the University of Saskatchewan
(B.A.) and the University of Toronto
(M.A.), Macpherson joined the Department of External Affairs of the Government of Canada
. Initially, she worked in Washington, D.C.
, Ottawa
and New York
before accepting a post as Third Secretary to the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations
from 1963–1968, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
from 1973 to 1976, Ambassador to Denmark
from 1979 to 1983, Deputy Commandant of the National Defense College from 1983 to 1985, and High Commissioner to Zambia
from 1985 to 1987. Macpherson retired in Ottawa
, where she died in 1998. She was only the third woman in Canada to hold the post of Ambassador (High Commissioner) at the time of her appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka in 1973, and the first to do so as a career diplomat. She was among the first women to take the examination for the Canadian foreign service, in the mid- to late- 1940s, and the first woman to pass and gain entrance to External Affairs on the basis of merit. She was a lifelong learner who continued to study piano and Spanish into her 60s. Of all the countries she lived in or visited, Spain
remained one of her fondest; she once said that the greatest moment in her professional life was the day democracy was re-established in Spain.
Moosomin, Saskatchewan
-Climate:-Moosomin in popular culture:* The Guess Who has a song called "Runnin' Back to Saskatoon"; it also mentions Moose Jaw and Moosomin.-Notable people from Moosomin:...
. Her father was a second-generation Scottish Canadian whose parents left their home in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
(South Uist, Northern Isles) to settle in the Moosomin area of south east Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Her mother was from the same Hebridean
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
region but had attended the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, from which she received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in the early 20th century before continuing on to a teaching career. Marion had two younger siblings: Joanne MacPherson of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
and CWE MacPherson, the Managing and Associate Editor of the Ottawa Citizen.
After studies at 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...
(B.A.) and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(M.A.), Macpherson joined the Department of External Affairs of the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
. Initially, she worked in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before accepting a post as Third Secretary to the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1963–1968, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
from 1973 to 1976, Ambassador to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
from 1979 to 1983, Deputy Commandant of the National Defense College from 1983 to 1985, and High Commissioner to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
from 1985 to 1987. Macpherson retired in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, where she died in 1998. She was only the third woman in Canada to hold the post of Ambassador (High Commissioner) at the time of her appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka in 1973, and the first to do so as a career diplomat. She was among the first women to take the examination for the Canadian foreign service, in the mid- to late- 1940s, and the first woman to pass and gain entrance to External Affairs on the basis of merit. She was a lifelong learner who continued to study piano and Spanish into her 60s. Of all the countries she lived in or visited, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
remained one of her fondest; she once said that the greatest moment in her professional life was the day democracy was re-established in Spain.