Agnes Macphail

Date of Birth: March 24, 1890

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: February 13, 1954

Biography

Agnes Campbell Macphail (March 24, 1890 – February 13, 1954) was a pioneering Canadian politician and the first woman elected to the House of Commons of Canada. Born in Proton Township, Ontario, Macphail began her career as a schoolteacher before transitioning into politics. She was a member of the Progressive Party of Canada and was elected to Parliament in 1921. Throughout her career, she was a tireless advocate for farmers’ rights, prison reform, and gender equality. Macphail was known for her strong, principled stands and was instrumental in the founding of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which later became the New Democratic Party. She continued to break barriers for women in politics, serving in both federal and provincial legislatures. Agnes Macphail remains a significant figure in Canadian history for her contributions to social justice and her role in paving the way for future generations of women in politics.

5 Interesting Facts about Agnes Macphail

1. Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons, serving from 1921 to 1940.

2. She was a founding member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which later evolved into the New Democratic Party (NDP).

3. Macphail was an advocate for prison reform and played a significant role in the establishment of the Archambault Commission, which led to major changes in the Canadian penal system.

4. She was one of the first female members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, serving from 1943 to 1945 and again from 1948 to 1951.

5. Agnes Macphail was a staunch supporter of pacifism and worked actively with organizations such as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Agnes Macphail

1. “I do not want to be famous but I do want to be heard.”

2. “If politics mean… the effort to secure through legislative action better conditions of life for the people, greater opportunities for our children and other people’s children… then it most assuredly is a woman’s job as much as it is a man’s job.”

3. “The world today needs women who think and women who work.”

4. “I want for myself what I want for other women: absolute equality.”

5. “Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life’s greatest tests alone.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Agnes Macphail’s career was primarily in public service, and she did not accumulate significant personal wealth. Therefore, her highest net worth is not well-documented, but it is known that she lived modestly.