Agnes Macphail (1890-1954)

Agnes Macphail was born sometime in 1890, in Guy County, Ontario.

In 1912 Agnes Macphail was elected to the House of Commons, she was the first woman ever to sit in the Commons, and for 14 years she was the only woman there.

In this lonely position, she was considered a curiosity. In fact every time that she spoke, her remarks were reported in the papers, and also there were constant jokes made about her wardrobe because she could not afford a large amount of clothing.

She served in the Federal Parliament from 1921 to 1940, and in the Ontario Legislature from 1943 to 1945 and from 1948 to 1951.

Agnes Macphail represented Canada in the Assembly of the League of Nations. She was also elected to parliament as a United Farmers of Ontario candidate.

Also Agnes Macphail was a school teacher by profession before she entered into politics.

Throughout her years in Parliament, Agnes Macphail spoke for the under privileged, championing the cause of striking miners as well as poor farmers, and starting some much needed prison reform in Canada.

Ordinary people loved her, but she was not particularly popular in Parliament.

Agnes Macphail died sometime in 1954 but she is still well known today for what she did while she was alive.

Bibliography

Hacker, C. (1983). The Book of Canadians, Alberta, Ashton-Potter.

World Book, Inc. (1985). The World Book Encyclopedia, 13, Page 24.