Sir John Alexander Macdonald GCB KCMG PC PC(Can) QC (11 January 1815 – 6 June 1891), was the first Prime Minister of Canada (1867–1873, 1878–1891). The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, he had a political career which spanned almost half a century. Macdonald served 19 years as Canadian Prime Minister; only William Lyon Mackenzie King served longer.