Agnes Gertrude VanKoughnet
Agnes Gertrude VanKoughnet | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1860 |
| Died | July 18, 1940 Dalnavert, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Resting place | St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names |
|
| Spouse | Hugh John Macdonald |
| Children | John Alexander ("Jack") |
| Father | S. J. VanKoughnet |
| Relatives | Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet (uncle) |
Agnes Gertrude Macdonald née VanKoughnet (c. 1860 – 1940) also known as Gertie Macdonald, was a Canadian socialite and second wife of Hugh John Macdonald.
Biography
[edit]VanKoughnet married Hugh John MacDonald, who was ten years her senior, on April 26, 1883, at St. Stephen's church in Toronto.[1] After their marriage, the two moved from Winnipeg to Toronto, where they lived until 1887. In 1885, the two had a son who they named John Alexander after MacDonald's father and nicknamed Jack.[2]
In 1887, the Macdonalds returned to Winnipeg. Construction of Dalnavert House was completed in 1895 when the family moved in.[3] VanKoughnet was First Lady of Manitoba in 1900.[4] Later, when Hugh John was made a Knight Bachelor in 1913, she officially became Lady Agnes Gertrude Macdonald.[5][6] In 1905, VanKoughnet's son Jack died from complications due to diabetes; her husband, Hugh John, died in 1929.[2] Following her husband's death, VanKoughnet moved from Dalnavert to an apartment on Roslyn Road.[7]
In Winnipeg, VanKoughnet was involved in many social events. When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visited in 1901, she attended a luncheon in their honour and was seated at the head table. She also attended a luncheon at the Government House of Manitoba in 1939 celebrating a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.[8]
While living at Dalnavert, VanKoughnet had two strokes leading to health complications. VanKoughnet died on July 18, 1940, and was over 80 years old at the time.[9] She was buried in St. John's Cathedral Cemetery in Winnipeg next to Hugh John MacDonald and her son Jack.[1]
Political career
[edit]Hugh John MacDonald counted on VanKoughnet to assist him with many of his political dealings. VanKoughnet was responsible for supervising Macdonald's 38 clerical workers and acting as his assistant.[10] While serving as minister of the interior and superintendent general of Indian Affairs, Macdonald often left notes in the margins of his political papers with instructions for VanKoughnet.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Memorable Manitobans: Macdonald family members". www.mhs.mb.ca. May 8, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b McLeod, Susanna (January 8, 2014). "Sir John A's son carved his own path". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Dalnavert National Historic Site of Canada". www.historicplaces.ca. Parks Canada. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Many Attend Funeral for Lady Macdonald". Winnipeg Tribune. July 22, 1940. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ "Sir Hugh John Macdonald House". www.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ "Memorable Manitobans: Hugh John Macdonald (1850-1929)". www.mhs.mb.ca. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
- ^ Paterson, Edith (January 16, 1971). "It Happened Here". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 70. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ "Agnes "Gertie"". Dalnavert Museum. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Lady Macdonald Estate $27,708". Winnipeg Tribune. August 16, 1940. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ Miller, J. R. (2014). "Macdonald as Minister of Indian Affairs: The Shaping of Canadian Indian Policy". In Dutil, Patrice; Hall, Roger (eds.). Macdonald at 200: New Reflections and Legacies. Dundurn. ISBN 9781459724600 – via Google Books.
- ^ Sherwin, Allan (2012). Bridging Two Peoples: Chief Peter E. Jones, 1843–1909. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. p. 125. ISBN 9781554586530 – via Google Books.