Alexander Mackenzie, a building contractor and newspaper editor, was the second Prim Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.
He was born in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland and was the third of ten children. At the age of 13, Mackenzie's father died, and he was forced to end his formal education in order to help support his family. At the age of 16 he apprenticed as a stonemason and by the age of 20 he had reached journeyman status in this field. Mackenzie immigrated to Canada in 1842 to seek a better life as well as to follow his sweetheart, Helen Neil. Mackenzie marrie Helen Neil in 1845 and with her had three children, with only one girl surviving infancy. In 1853, he married Jane Sym.
In Canada, Mackenzie continued his career as a stonemason, building many structures that still stand today. He involved himself in politics almost from the moment he arrived in Canada.
As Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie strove to reform and simplify the machinery of government. He introduced the secret ballot; advised the creation of the Supreme Court of Canada; the establishment of the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 1874; the creation of the Office of the Auditor General in 1878; and struggled to continue progress on the national railway.
Mackenzie Hall in Windsor is named after him.
He died April 17, 1892 at the age of 70 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.