- William J. P. MacMillan
Dr. William Joseph Parnell MacMillan (
24 March 1881 –7 December 1957 ) was a physician andPrince Edward Island politician.Born in Clermont, MacMillan was a graduate of
Prince of Wales College and theMcGill University Faculty of Medicine.After running a medical practice for several years, MacMillan entered politics in 1923 winning a seat in the provincial
legislative assembly as a Conservative. In 1932 he became the province's first minister of health and education. As minister he rebuiltPrince of Wales College and the Provincial Mental Hospital which had both been destroyed by fire. He also secured aCarnegie Foundation endowment that enabled the government to establish a provincial library system.When
James D. Stewart became ill, MacMillan served as acting premier and then becamePremier when Stewart died in 1933. MacMillan's government implemented relief programs and increasing government spending to help dampen the impact of theGreat Depression . Nevertheless, his government was swept from power in the 1935 election which saw the Liberals capture every seat in the legislature. He returned to the legislature in 1939 and remained leader of the Conservative Party until the late 1940s and a member of the legislature until he lost his seat in the 1955 election.MacMillan was named the province's
lieutenant-governor on22 November 1957 but died before being sworn in.
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