Mackenzie Bowell was born in Ricking hall, Suffolk, England, in 1832 his family immigrated to Belleville where he got a job as a printer at the town newspaper. The Belleville Intelligencer. He became a successful printer and editor. He was a Freemason as well as an Orangeman. Becoming leader of the Orange Order of British North America. In 1847 he married Harriet Moore and had four sons and five daughters .Bowell was first elected to the House of Commons in 1867 as a Conservative for the North Hastings. He kept his seat for the Conservatives when they lost the election in January 1874. With the Conservatives again governing. He joined the cabinet as Minister of Customs. In 1892 he became Minister of Militia and Defense. Bowell remained in
