Agnes campbell macphail biography

First woman elected to Canada's federal Parliament, who was a tireless defender of the rights of women, farmers, prisoners and the disadvantaged through a political career spanning three decades .

Name variations: originally "MacPhail," changed the spelling to "Macphail" in Born Agnes MacPhail in Proton Township, Grey County, southwestern Ontario, Canada, on March 24, ; died in Toronto on February 13, ; daughter of Henrietta Campbell MacPhail and Dougald MacPhail; never married; no children.

Like many Scottish emigrants in the midth century, Agnes Macphail's ancestors came to central Canada with the dream of religious freedom and independent farm ownership.

Agnes campbell macphail biography

Choosing to settle in the Grey-Bruce area of southwestern Ontario, both the Campbells and the MacPhails were successful in acquiring their own farms. However, the soil in this area was poor, making farming and economic survival difficult.

On March 24, , Agnes Macphail (who changed the spelling to "Macph