Alexander McLennan

When Alexander McLennan was 17 years old, he was an educated, bright young man with absolutely no prospects of employment or income in Scotland. Entering military service was possible but he could not afford to buy a commission, which meant that he would have been one of the rank and file, an impossible situation for a gentleman. He had two uncles living in Canada, so he was sent to them, arriving in Montreal, about 1862. According to family tradition he went to Kingston Military Academy, but that institution was not yet founded, so he either enrolled in a different military academy or some other institute of higher learning. He may have been one of the Alexander McLennans enrolled at Queen's University as he did learn to survey at some point. During his stay with his Uncle Robert McLennan, dominie (teacher) in Glengarry Co., Ontario, he was assistant teacher. Later, he went to his Uncle Alexander McLennan, in Fournierville, Prescott Co. Ontario, learning clerking and post office work in his uncle's general store

 

[ about 1862]