Born in
Clermont, MacMillan was a graduate of
Prince of Wales College and the
McGill 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 rebuilt
Prince of Wales College and the Provincial Mental Hospital which had both been destroyed by fire. He also secured a
Carnegie Foundation endowment that enabled the government to establish a provincial library system. When Premier
James D. Stewart became ill, MacMillan served as acting premier and then became the 18th
premier of Prince Edward Island when Stewart died in 1933. MacMillan's government implemented relief programs and increasing government spending to help dampen the impact of the
Great 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 on November 22, 1957 but died before being sworn in. == References ==