Alexander Ferguson MacLaren

Alexander Ferguson MacLaren


Member of the Canadian Parliament for Perth North
In office 1896–1908
Preceded by	James Nicol Grieve
Succeeded by	James Palmer Rankin
Personal details
Born	(1854-02-03)February 3, 1854 Lanark, Canada West
Died	April 19, 1917(1917-04-19) (aged 63) Toronto, Ontario
Political party	Conservative

Alexander Ferguson MacLaren (February 3, 1854 – April 19, 1917) was a Canadian manufacturer, exporter and politician.

Born in Perth, Lanark County, Canada West, the son of John MacLaren, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, MacLaren moved to Cromarty in Perth County with his family while still young. He was employed with a dairyman to learn cheese making but soon joined Thomas Ballantyne, a major cheese manufacturer and exporter. In 1890, MacLaren established his own cheese exporting business in Stratford. He was one of the judges at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and was the sole judge for the dairy products at the Toronto and Ottawa fairs. He was also President of the Ontario Dairymen's Association. MacLaren's company established offices in Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, New York City, London (England), Mexico, China, Japan and Africa. He was also president of the Imperial Wood Fibre Plaster Company, president of the Imperial Veneer Company and served on the board of directors of a number of other companies. In 1895, he married Janet McLeod.

He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the electoral district of Perth North at the general elections of 1896. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1900 and 1904. He was defeated in 1908. MacLaren died in Toronto from kidney problems.

In 1920, his company was purchased by J. L. Kraft and Brothers Company.

References

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