Favourite Son?: John A. Macdonald and the Voters of Kingston, 1841-1891

Political biographies generally focus on public careers and often take for granted their subjects' constituency background. Favourite Son? is a book about the political relations between Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John Macdonald, and the Ontario city of Kingston which he represented in parliament for over thirty-eight years (with one interval) between 1844 and his death in 1891.

Favourite Son? was published, in a handsome volume, by the Kingston Historical Society in 2010. I am grateful to the Kingston Historical Society for permission to re-publish this version of the text on my website. Brian Osborne suggested the title, and supported the project in many other ways. Without his help, the book would not have happened.
The Preface and Chapter 1 set John A. Macdonald in the context of his home city.
"Preface: Names and Numbers, Sources, Abbreviations"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/252-favourite-son-names-and-numbers-sources-abbreviations
1: 'Macdonald of Kingston'
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/253-i-macdonald-of-kingston
Chapters 2 to 5 explore the decline and partial revival of Macdonald's hold on the riding.
2: "'My Duty and My Interest', 1841-1857"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/254-ii-my-duty-and-my-interest-1841-1857
3: "'Kingston Had Not Been A Sufferer', 1857-1864"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/255-iii-kingston-had-not-been-a-sufferer-1857-1864
4: "'Never Among Us', 1867-1874"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/256-iv-never-among-us-1867-1874
5: "'A Worn-Out Relic of Decayed Toryism', 1874-1891"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/257-v-a-worn-out-relic-of-decayed-toryism-1874-1891
Chapter 6 examines Kingston elections, exploring issues that may have some relevance beyond the city.
6: "Voters and Voter Management"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/258-vi-voters-and-voter-management
Chapter 7 reviews the reason why Kingston stagnated in the 19th century, and examines Macdonald's sometimes chaotic finances.
7: "The Kingston Economy and the Finances of John A. Macdonald"
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/259-vii-the-kingston-economy-and-the-finances-of-john-a-macdonald
The "Conclusion" follows.
http://www.gedmartin.net/2016-11-04-15-27-28/260-conclusion