Allan MacNab

He was born in Newark[1] (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) to Allan MacNab and Anne Napier (daughter of Captain Peter William Napier, R.N., the commissioner of the port and harbour of Quebec). When MacNab was a one year old, he was baptized in the Anglican church in St. Mark's Parish of Newark.[1] His father was a lieutenant in the 71st Regiment and the Queen's Rangers under Lt-Col. John Graves Simcoe. After the Queen's Rangers were disbanded, the family moved around the country in search of work and eventually settled in York (now Toronto), where MacNab was educated at the Home District Grammar School.

After his service in the War of 1812, Macnab studied law in Toronto and was admitted to the bar in 1824.[3] In 1826, MacNab moved from York to Hamilton, where he established a successful law office, but it was chiefly by land speculation that he made his fortune. There was no Anglican church in Hamilton yet, so MacNab attended a Presbyterian church until Christ Church was established in 1835.[4]

A successful entrepreneur as well as politician, MacNab, with Glasgow merchant Peter Buchanan, was responsible for the construction of the Great Western Railway of Ontario.[5]

Bust of Sir Allan MacNab, sculpted by Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook.

MacNab represented Hamilton in Parliament from 1830 until his death in 1862, first in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada (1830–1840), then in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada (1841–1860), and finally in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada representing the Western Division (1860–1862).[6] He was joint Premier of the province from 1854 to 1856.

MacNab committed a breach of privilege and was detained by the sergeant-of-arms during the 10th Parliament of Upper Canada after a motion by the legislative assembly. MacNab retaliated by accusing William Lyon Mackenzie of breach of privilege and motioned for him to be expelled from the house. The motion failed after Tory legislators feared the political backlash of supporting an obscure parliamentary privilege.[7]

MacNab was a "Compact Tory" - a supporter of the Family Compact which had controlled Upper Canada prior to the union of the Canadas.[1][8] In the first Parliament of the new Province of Canada, he supported the principle of union, but was an opponent of the Governor General, Sydenham, and his policy of creating a government with a broad base of moderate supporters in the Assembly. He opposed the policy of the "Ultra Reformers" to implement responsible government.[9]

When Parliament met at Montreal, MacNab took apartments there at Donegana's Hotel.

MacNab was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Brooke, who died 5 November 1826, possibly of complications following childbirth. Together, they had two children.

He married his second wife, Mary, who died 8 May 1846 and was a Catholic; she was the daughter of John Stuart, Sheriff of the Johnstown District, Ontario. The couple's two daughters, Sophia and Minnie, were raised as Catholics.[1]

The couple's elder daughter, Sophia Macnab of Dundurn Castle, was born at Hamilton. She married at Dundurn Castle, Hamilton, on 15 November 1855, William Keppel, Viscount Bury, afterwards the 7th Earl of Albemarle, who died in 1894. Sophia was the mother of Arnold Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle (born in London, England, 1 June 1858), and of eight other children. One of her sons, the Honourable Derek Keppel, served as Equerry to The Duke of York after 1893 and was in Canada with His Royal Highness, in 1901 at 53 Lowndes Square, London, S. W., England.[10] A full list of the children of Sophia, Countess of Albemarle; and her grandchildren, and most notable great grandchildren, is as follows: • Lt-Col. Sir Arnold Allen Cecil Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle, CB, GCVO, MP, JP, ADC, TD, (1 June 1858– 12 April 1942), who married Lady Gertrude Lucia Egerton, only child of Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton of Tatton, MA (Oxon.) MP, • Hon. Gertrude Mary Keppel (November 1859–7 April 1860), who died in infancy. • Lady Theodora Keppel of Hampton Court Palace, DJStJ, Medaille de la Reconnaissance (11 January 1862-30 October 1945) who married Colonel William Leslie Davidson of Inchmarlo, CB, QM (4 clasps) JP (Kincardine) ADC, RHA, Gentleman Usher to HM King George V, ADC to the Viceroy of India; and latterly ADC to HM's Governor of Gibraltar; and had issue: Leopoldina Theodora Davidson of Inchmarlo, JP (Wiltshire) (1930) who married (7 October 1924) at the Brompton Oratory RC Church, Knightsbridge, London; Major Walter Basil Louis Bonn, of Oaklands, DSO, MC, MA (Oxon.) FRSA, FZSL, Welsh Guards, Freeman of the City of London; and had issue: 1. Jurat of the Royal Court (1985-1997) Lt. Michael Walter Bonn, Welsh Guards, Kt. SMO Malta, Hereditary Freeman of the City of London, Deputy of St Peter's, President of the International Dendrologists Society (13 January 1927-11 November 1997) who married (6 June 1951) Elizabeth Mary Buxton, of Horsey Hall, with issue: 1. Sara Mary Philomena Bonn (24 August 1952) who married Charles George Lacy Hulbert-Powell, son of Evelyn Charles Lacy Hulbert-Powell and the Hon. Philippa Catherine St Aubyn, daughter of Francis Cecil Ord, 3rd Baron St Levan of St Michael’s Mount. 2. Dr Simon Michael Joseph Bonn (6 July 1953) married (1981) Melissa Ann Cadoux-Hudson, daughter of Lt.-Col. Daniel Patrick Cadoux-Hudson. 3. Mary Elizabeth Bonn, MA, MPhil (8 August 1956) 4. Theresa Mary Bonn, MA (27 February 1959) 2. Major Christopher Leslie Leo Bonn, GCHM, ADC (18 September 1928-11 December 2008) Officer of the Welsh Guards, Adjutant of Eton College, Hereditary Freeman of the City of London, Hon. ADC to HH Prince Ivan Obolensky; who married (23 February 1963) Edwina Sylvia de Winton-Wills of Meggernie Castle, formerly the Viscountess Savernake, and ‘de iure’ Countess of Cardigan (the former wife of Capt. the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Sydney Cedric Brudenell-Bruce, afterwards the (8th) Marquess of Ailesbury (of the ducal house of Brudenell, formerly Dukes of Montagu and Marquesses of Monthermer) Lord Ailesbury being 30th Hereditary Warden of Savernake Forest. 2. Issue of Major Christopher Leslie Leo Bonn, GCHM, ADC, Hereditary Freeman of the City of London: 1. ITPC Commissioner Philip Bonn, ADC, MA (Cantab.) FRSA, Kt. OStML GCEM, Hereditary Freeman of the City of London (9 February 1964-) Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (2002); Knight Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Emperor Menelik II (2014); National Chairman and a Councillor of the BRCS Queen Mother Memorial Fund (2002-2006); Director & Chief Representative at UN Geneva of World of Hope International, Special Consultative Status to UN ECOSOC; Centenary Director (2009-2010) & Adviser of the RNID (197-2011) as L.Bonn Memorial Foundation Tstee & Hon. Sec; Envoy & ADC to HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, the President of the Imperial Crown Council of Ethiopia (2014-); Special Envoy of the International Emergency Management Organisation (IEMO) a UN IGO (2016-), and Special Adviser to CeCASt-Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2021-); 2. Camilla Georgina Alexandra Bonn, BA (Hons.) Bristol (22 April 1965-) 3. Melissa Marina Arabella Bonn (4 December 1968-14 November 1971); 4. Melanie Marina Rozel Bonn, MA (Edinburgh) (4 November 1974) • Hilary Davidson of Inchmarlo, a Roman Catholic nun • Vera Marian Davidson of Inchmarlo, married (15 December 1914) Aylmer Probyn Maude, Solicitor • Captain Donald Alastair Davidson of Inchmarlo, MC, RFC, (1902-1908) a Page of Honour to HM King Edward VII (6 October 1891-20 April 1917); Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Keppel Davidson of Inchmarlo, CIE, OBE, OStJ, ADC, Equerry to HRH The Duke of Windsor (1936-1940) married 1939; Lady Mary Rachel Fitzalan-Howard, DCVO, Lady in Waiting to HRH Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, later HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, CI, GCVO, GBE • Lt. Col. the Hon. Sir Derek William George Keppel , KCB, GCVO, CIE, CMG, VD, ADC, Equerry in Waiting to HRH The Duke of York (1893-1901); Equerry to HRH The Prince of Wales (1901-1910): Deputy Master of the Household to HM King George V (1910-1912); and Extra Equerry to HM King George V (1912–1936); Extra Equerry to HM King Edward VIII in 1936; and Extra Equerry to HM King George VI (1937-1944). • Lady Hilda Mary Keppel (1864–1955), who died unmarried, a Roman Catholic nun. • Lt Col. the Hon. George Keppel, MVO (14 October 1865-22 November 1947), who married Alice Frederica Edmonstone (the long-time (1898-1910) mistress and confidante of HM King Edward VII) Issue 1. Violet Keppel, COMRI, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Chevalier de la Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur(1950) (6 June 1894-1 March 1970) married (16 June 1919) Major Denys Robert Trefusis, MC ( 30 March 1890-2 September 1929) 2. Sonia Rosemary Keppel, OBE, CStJ, (24 May 1900-16 August 1986) married (16 November 1920) Hon. Roland Calvert Cubitt, 3rd Baron Ashcombe (26 January 1899-28 October 1962 ) having issue: 1. Hon Rosalind Maud Cubitt (11 August 1921-14 July 1994) she married (2 January 1946) Major Bruce Hope Middleton Shand, MC (22 January 1917-11 June 2006) having issue: Camilla Rosemary Shand (17 July 1947-) married Brigadier Andrew Henry Parker-Bowles, OBE, ADC (4 July 1973) divorced 19 January 1995; having issue: 1. Thomas Henry Parker-Bowles (18 December 1974-) Godson of HRH The Prince of Wales 2. Laura Rose Parker-Bowles (1 January 1978-) Married secondly at Windsor; HRH Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, PC, QSO. • Lady Leopoldina Olivia Keppel (1866–1948), who was the God daughter of HM King Leopold II of the Belgians; and who became a nun, known religiously, as Madame Keppel. • Lady Susan Mary Keppel, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chefkat (Ottoman Empire) (1868–1953), who married HE Sir Walter Beaupre Townley, KCMG, His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador. A senior British diplomat in various countries, including at Constantinople, in the Ottoman Empire, Persia, German Empire, Imperial China, and in the Netherlands; having issue 1. Stephen Townley • Lady Mary Stuart Keppel (1869–1906), who married (1996) Major-General Sir Harold Arthur Lewis Tagart, CB, KCMG, DSO, in 1900. • Lady Florence Cecilia Keppel (1871–1963), who married the Rt. Hon. Admiral Sir William Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork in 1902, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Kingdom of Italy).

MacNab died at his home, Dundurn Castle, in Hamilton. His deathbed conversion to Catholicism caused a furor in the press in the following days. The Toronto Globe and the Hamilton Spectator expressed strong doubts about the conversion, and the Anglican rector of Christ Church declared that MacNab died a Protestant.[4]

However, MacNab's Catholic baptism is recorded at St. Mary's Cathedral in Hamilton, at the hands of John Farrell, Bishop of Hamilton, on 7 August 1862.[1]

When the 12th Chief of Clan Macnab died, he bequeathed all his heirlooms to MacNab, whom he considered the next Chief. When the latter's son was killed in a shooting accident in Canada, the position of Chief of Clan Macnab passed to the Macnabs of Arthurstone.

Plaque at Dundurn Castle.

MacNab Street and Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario are both named after him.[11]

Dundurn Castle, his stately Italianate style home in Hamilton, is open to the public.

A ship was named Sir Allan MacNab and was sturdily built in Canada but was not altogether designed for speed. The master in 1855 was Captain Cherry, and the tonnage of the ship was 840, then quite large.

• Donald R. Beer, Sir Allan Napier MacNab (Hamilton, Ontario, 1984)

• Photograph: Sir Allan McNab in 1861. McCord Museum
• Allan Napier MacNab fonds, Archives of Ontario

Burke's Peerage and Baronetage: Albemarle, Earl of; Ailesbury, Marquess of; St Levan, Baron; Wills of Hazelwood, Baronet; and Buxton, Baronet Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage: Albemarle, Earl of Burke's Landed Gentry (1964 edition) Davidson of Inchmarlo, and Bonn of Oaklands