Benjamin Earle MacDonald

MACDONALD, BENJAMIN EARLE, accountant and grocer; b. 27 January 1907 in Covehead, son of Peter J. MacDonald and Ethel Birt; m. 31 July 1928 Jean Bell MacLean, and they had one child, Jean Beryl; Presbyterian; d. 17 July 1965 in Charlottetown. MacDonald, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1951 for 5th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1955. He was defeated in the general election of 1959. MacDonald was appointed Minister of Health and Welfare in the government of Alexander W. Matheson* in 1953. On 16 June 1955, he was appointed Provincial Secretary and Treasurer. Before entering provincial politics, MacDonald served on the Charlottetown City Council from 1940 to 1946, and during this time chaired both the tire and finance committees. In 1946, at the age of 33, MacDonald was elected Mayor. At that time, he was the second-youngest person to hold the office of Mayor of Charlottetown. MacDonald held the position of Mayor until 1951 when he offered himself as a candidate in that year's provincial general election. B. Earle MacDonald moved with his family to Charlottetown at the age of 12. He attended city schools and also completed courses at the Charlottetown Business College. He then became employed in the accountant's office of the Canadian National Railway. Later MacDonald was transferred to the superintendent's office where he worked as the paymaster. After 16 years of service with the railway, he resigned to take over the family grocery business with his brother Elmer. Earle MacDonald died 17 July 1965 at the Prince Edward Island Hospital. Jean MacDonald was the daughter of Reverend Daniel MacLean.