Irish-Canadian politician and Father of Canadian Confederation. He founded the New Era publication in Montreal, Quebec, which promoted the right of Irish Catholic representation within the assembly. He was eventually elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and became the minister of agriculture, immigration and statistics in the Conservative government. 

Before Fame

He was raised as a Roman Catholic in Carlingford, Ireland, but moved to the United States at the age of 17. He worked as an editor of the Catholic newspaper Boston Pilot before returning to Ireland and becoming editor of The Nation, an Irish nationalist newspaper.

Trivia

Since his assassination in 1868, numerous tributes have been built in his honor. A monument to him stands in his hometown of Carlingford. The Thomas D'Arcy McGee Building is a preeminent government office building in Ottawa, Canada. There are also 4 schools named after him throughout Canada. Patrick J. Whelan was found guilty of his murder, and executed. 

Family Life

His mother was the daughter of a bookseller in Dublin. His father, James McGee, was a soldier in the coast guard. He is the great-uncle to Frank Charles McGee, a Canadian businessman and Parliament member.

Associated With

As his passion for conservatism grew, he campaigned rigorously for Pope Pius IX. His assassination plays a major role in the novel Away by author Jane Urquhart.