David Laird

This article is about the Canadian politician. For the Scottish footballer, see Davie Laird.

The Hon. David Laird

David Laird, PC (March 12, 1833 – January 12, 1914) was the first resident Lieutenant Governor of Northwest Territories, Canada. He was the fifth Lieutenant Governor in charge of the territory.

He was born in New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island, the son of Alexander Laird, a Scottish immigrant.

He was Member of Parliament for Queen's County Prince Edward Island from 1873 to 1876 for the Liberal Party of Canada. During his term in parliament he served as Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, and Minister of the Interior. During his tenure as Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, he championed the Indian Act through the Parliament, a legislation that would enable the government to realize its ultimate goal of paternalistically civilizing the natives of Canada. He earned the name 'He Whose Tongue is Not Forked'.

In 1874 he paved the way for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Dominion Telegraph by negotiating the Qu'Appelle Lakes Treaty with local First Nations groups in southern Saskatchewan, to procure land for the railway and telegraph lines.

In 1876 he was appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories — great change would happen under his tenure as he would order the capital would be moved from Fort Livingstone to Battleford.

After his term as Lieutenant Governor expired, he returned to Prince Edward Island to run again for parliament. He was defeated in the election of 1882. After his defeat, he served as editor of the Charlottetown Patriot a newspaper in Charlottetown, until 1889.

He later moved back west to Manitoba and became president of the Manitoba Historical and Scientific Society from 1903 to 1904.

He was appointed Indian Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and Keewatin, and held that position until his death. After 1909 he also became an advisor for the Department of Indian Affairs.

Laird died in Ottawa on January 12, 1914. The town of Laird, Saskatchewan was named in his honour.

See also

• 1st Council of the Northwest Territories

References

• David Laird at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• David Laird - Parliament of Canada biography
• Qu'Appelle Lakes, Treaty
• David Laird Biography: Alberta Government

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by New district	Member of Parliament from Queen's County 1873-1876	Succeeded by James Pope

Persondata
Name	Laird, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 12, 1833
Place of birth
Date of death	January 12, 1914
Place of death