Alexander Johnston (Canadian politician)

Alexander Johnston
CMG
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Cape Breton
In office
1900–1904
Preceded byCharles Tupper
Succeeded byDistrict was abolished in 1903
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Cape Breton South
In office
1904–1908
Preceded byDistrict was created in 1903
Succeeded byJames William Maddin
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Cape Breton
In office
1897–1900
Personal details
Born(1867-04-24)April 24, 1867
Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedNovember 30, 1951(1951-11-30) (aged 84)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal

Alexander Johnston, CMG (April 24, 1867 – November 30, 1951) was a Canadian journalist, civil servant and politician.

Born in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Johnston was educated at the Common Schools and St. Francis Xavier College, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He was the editor and proprietor of the Sydney Daily Record. He was elected, in 1897, to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly but he resigned his seat in 1900 in order to contest the riding of Cape Breton for the House of Commons of Canada. A Liberal, he was successful and was re-elected in 1904. He was defeated in 1908. Johnston was Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries from 1910 to 1933. He led the Canadian delegation to London which participated in the development of international regulations for safety at sea following the sinking of RMS Titanic. Johnston was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1935. He died in Ottawa at the age of 84.

1900 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Liberal A. Johnston 3,922 – x
Liberal A.S. Kendall 3,890 – x
Conservative Charles Tupper 3,672
Liberal–Conservative Hector Francis McDougall 3,604

References