Donald Alexander MacKinnon

Donald Alexander MacKinnon, born on February twenty-second, eighteen sixty-three, in Uigg, Prince Edward Island, was a multifaceted individual who made significant contributions as a teacher, lawyer, and politician. The son of William and Catherine Nicholson MacKinnon, he began his teaching career at the tender age of fourteen after attending Uigg grammar school. His dedication to education led him to obtain a first-class teaching license from the Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown.

In eighteen eighty-two, MacKinnon embarked on a legal career by articling with the prominent Charlottetown barrister Malcolm McLeod. He furthered his legal education at Dalhousie Law School from eighteen eighty-five to eighteen eighty-seven, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree. He was called to the Bar as an attorney in eighteen eighty-seven and as a barrister in eighteen eighty-eight, eventually being appointed Queen's Counsel in eighteen ninety-nine. He established his law practice in Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, before relocating to Charlottetown in eighteen ninety-seven.

MacKinnon's political journey began with his election to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, where he represented the electoral district of 4th Kings from eighteen ninety-three to eighteen ninety-nine. Although he was appointed attorney general in the cabinet of Donald Farquharson, his subsequent defeat in the reelection bid did not deter him. In the federal political arena, he was elected as the Liberal candidate for the electoral district of East Queen's in the nineteen hundred federal election, and after a void election in nineteen hundred one, he was re-elected in a by-election.

In nineteen hundred four, MacKinnon was appointed the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, a position he held until nineteen ten. He returned to federal politics in nineteen twenty-one when he was elected to the House of Commons for the electoral district of Queen's. His life came to a close in Charlottetown in nineteen twenty-eight, leaving behind a legacy of public service and dedication to his community.