81 The MacDonalds of Panmure Island ■-1 ;-*ft"c >•, i s t'«- ft* X Jteb J-7, |^f{ Senator Was active politician The anniversary of both the birth and death of a Father of Confedera¬ tion was marked on February 14. The late Senator Andrew A . Mac - Donald , a Georgetown merchant whose political life included atten¬ ding both the 1864 Charlottetown and Quebec conferences as a P.E.I , representative. Mr. MacDonald also, recalls his grandson Reg Mac - Donald , Mt. Stewart, served in the provincial legislative assembly, had a five-year term as Lieutenant - Governor and died while represen¬ ting the Island in the Senate in 1912. Born on Brudenell in 1829, Mr. MacDonald was the son of Hughie and Catherine MacDonald, natives of Invernesshire, Scotland , who set¬ tled first on Panmure Island and then Brudenell Point. A.A. Mac ¬ Donald followed his family's storekeeping tradition, setting up a shop in Georgetown with his brothers Archibald and Austin as partners. In 1853-54 Mr. MacDonald tras elected to represent Georgetown district in the provin- <fel legislature; ten years later he was elected as a member of the Legislative Council, which seat he held until 1873. Following that term te became P.E.I. 's Postmaster fieneral. Mr. MacDonald , relates his grandson Reg MacDonald, Mt. Stewart, attended both the Con¬ federation conference in Charlot¬ tetown, and the successful Quebec conference both held in 1864 which led to confederation. In 1884, A.A. MacDonald was ap¬ pointed Lieutenant - Governor for P.E.I. , and remained in that posi¬ tion for the next five years, until his appointment to the Federal Senate. A political as well as mercantile .family, both A.A. MacDonald and his brother Austin became Lieutenant -Governors . Augustine Colin MacDonald was Lieutenant - Governor from 1915 to 1919. He also was a member of the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly, but, unlike his brother Andrew, was elected to the Federal House of Commons in 1873, was defeated in 1874 but returned from 1878 to 1887, and from 1887 to 1900. Five of A.A. MacDonald 's grand¬ children are still living: reginald A. MacDonald , Mt. Stewart; Ann, Charlottetown ; Peggy, Allen and Marjorie, all in Ontario . As a rule the remaining grandchildren held a family reunion on the anniversary of Mr. MacDonald 's death, but have not had a gathering this year. Generations Reg. MacDonald, Mt. Stewart, holds a picture of his grandfather, A.A. MacDonald . Source: newspaper, February 27,1980