|
Born in Glasgow, Sir John A. Macdonald (1815-91) emigrated to Canada in his youth, settling in Kingston, where he became a successful corporate lawyer, an MP - representing the town for well-nigh forty years - and ultimately prime minister (1867-73 and 1887-91). A shrewd and forceful man, Macdonald played a leading role in Confederation, arm-twisting here, charming there to ensure the grand plan went through. In the 1840s, Macdonald rented Bellevue House (daily: April-May & Sept 10am-5pm; June-Aug 9am-6pm; $3), 35 Centre St, a bizarrely asymmetrical, pagoda-shaped house, in the hope that the country air would improve the health of his wife, Isabella, whose tuberculosis was made worse by the treatment - laudanum. Isabella never returned to good health and died after years as an invalid, leaving Macdonald alone (with the bottle). Both the house and gardens have been restored to the period of the late 1840s when the Macdonalds lived here. Bellevue House is located to the west of the university campus, about 2km from the centre.
Your Tip for Bellevue House
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Bellevue House - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Bellevue House - visit the main Bellevue House forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Bellevue House webguide section below! Thanks.
|
