11 Facts About Alfred Boyd

Alfred Boyd was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, who is usually considered to have been the first premier of Manitoba though he was not recognized by that title at the time and was not the real leader of the government.

Alfred Boyd is more correctly referred to as the first Provincial Secretary of Manitoba.

Alfred Boyd established himself as a merchant and trader in Red River Colony and appears to have become wealthy by the time of the 1869 Red River Rebellion.

Alfred Boyd refused to vote for Riel as the Convention's leader and spoke in favour of territorial status.

Alfred Boyd was elected for the riding of St Andrew's North in Manitoba's first provincial election, defeating fellow government-supporter Donald Gunn by 58 votes to 28.

Alfred Boyd was criticized by his constituents for supporting public works construction in the French-Canadian community of St Boniface and voting to incorporate the Roman Catholic Diocese of St Boniface Faced with those pressures, Boyd resigned his position on December 9,1871.

In resigning, Alfred Boyd called for "English mixed-blood" representation at the cabinet level.

Alfred Boyd was replaced by "mixed-blood" MLA John Norquay, as such.

Alfred Boyd was appointed to the Temporary North-West Council in 1872 and remained a member until the Council's dissolution.

Alfred Boyd briefly rejoined the Manitoba executive as the province's first Minister of Education.

Alfred Boyd is thought to have left in 1889 for England where he purchased several properties.