Sir Allan Napier MacNab

Politician, businessman, land speculator and soldier, Allan MacNab enjoyed a very public life. He was a successful lawyer and was appointed Upper Canada’s first Queen’s Counsel. In 1838 he was knighted for his role in suppressing the rebellion in Upper Canada. The profits from his extensive land speculation were fed into a variety of projects, including construction of his monument, Dundurn. He was influential in establishing the Gore Bank and in promoting the Great Western Railway. During a political career spanning three decades, he was three times Speaker and, from 1854 to 1856, Premier.

Homme politique, homme d’affaires, spéculateur foncier, officier militaire et avocat, Allan MacNab eut une longue vie publique. Premier conseiller de la reine au Haut-Canada, il fut créé chevalier en 1838, en récompense de son rôle répressif lors de la Rébellion. Il contribua à l’établissement de la Gore Bank et du Great Western Railway. Il investit les profits de ses spéculations dans divers projets dont la construction de ce château, Dundurn, qui devait prolonger sa mémoire. Au cours de ses quelque 30 ans de carrière politique, il fut président de la Chambre à trois reprises et premier ministre de 1854 à 1856.