Topics

Today in Canada's Political History: October 12, 1866, Birth of future British PM Ramsay MacDonald

  • Arthur Milnes

  • National Newswatch

  • October 12, 2026

Arthur Milnes, creator of Art's History on National Newswatch, is an accomplished public historian, award-winning journalist, and in-house historian at the Frontenac Club Hotel who brings Canada's political history to life through engaging stories, historical insights, and personal anecdotes drawn from his encounters with many of the country's leading figures.

The 20th century British Prime Minister who enjoyed a life-long love affair with Canada, was born on this date in 1866. He would go on to make history as his nation’s first-ever Labour Prime Minister.

He and his wife, Margaret, who married in 1896, honeymooned in Canada, and Ramsay MacDonald wrote often about his travels from coast-to-coast in the Dominion across the sea from his home. As Prime Minister, he toured Canada and the United States extensively and formed friendships with numerous Canadians, particularly with Mackenzie King.

He visited Canada in 1929 and you can watch this film of him taking in Niagara Falls where he also boarded the famed Maid of the Mist tour boat.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYEqw1Ms48Y

Of interest is the fact his son, Malcolm, would serve as the UK’s High Commissioner to Canada from 1941 to 1946.



Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.