Alexander McGillivray (politician)

Alexander Andrew McGillivray (February 11, 1884 – December 12, 1940) was a lawyer and provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Calgary from 1926 to 1930. He served as leader of the Alberta Conservative party from 1925 to 1929.

Alexander Andrew McGillivray was born in London, Ontario on February 11, 1884. After High School he attended St. Francis College in Richmond, Quebec and later attended Dalhousie University, receiving his LLB in 1906.

Early career

After completing university he moved to Alberta in 1907 and admitted to the bar on May 14, 1907. McGillivray practiced in Stettler, Alberta until 1910 quitting his practice to run as a candidate in the 1911 federal election.

After failing to win a seat, McGillivray moved to Calgary and started a law firm with Thomas Tweedie. He later became Crown Prosecutor, King's Counsellor in 1919, and served as such until he was elected leader of the Alberta Conservative Party in 1925.

Political career

McGillivray ran for a seat to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1911 Canadian federal election. He was defeated by incumbent Member of Parliament Michael Clark.

McGillivray became leader of the provincial Conservatives in 1925. He worked tirelessly to build the party's organization across the province that had diminished after the party lost all their seats in the 1921 Alberta general election. In the 1926 election, the Conservatives picked up four seats including McGillivray's in Calgary.

McGillivray ran in the Calgary provincial electoral district. He headed the polls and was the only candidate elected on the first count.

McGillivray stepped down as Conservative leader in 1929 and did not run for office again.

Judicial career

McGillivray was appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division in 1931. He died of a heart attack, on December 12, 1940 in Edmonton, while still a member of the Court.

McGillivray's son, William A. McGillivray, became the Chief Justice of Alberta, and his grandson, Douglas A. McGillivray, Q.C., was President of the Law Society of Alberta.