Matthew McCauley (politician)

Matthew McCauley
1st Mayor of Edmonton
In office February 10, 1892 – January 14, 1895
Succeeded by	Herbert Charles Wilson
Alderman on the Edmonton Town Council
In office January 13, 1896 – December 14, 1896
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
In office November 4, 1898 – May 21, 1902
Preceded by	Frank Oliver
Succeeded by	Richard Secord
Constituency	Edmonton
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office November 9, 1905 – March 22, 1909
Preceded by	New District
Succeeded by	James Bismark Holden
Constituency	Vermilion
Personal details
Born	July 11, 1850 Sydenham, Canada West
Died	October 25, 1930(1930-10-25) (aged 80) Sexsmith, Alberta
Political party	Alberta Liberal Party
Spouses	Matilda Benson ​ ​ (m. 1875; died 1896)​ Annie Cookson ​ (m. 1902)​
Profession	Businessman
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Matthew McCauley (July 11, 1850 – October 25, 1930) was the first mayor of the city of Edmonton, and a member of the legislative assemblies of both the Northwest Territories and Alberta.

McCauley was born into a farming family in Sydenham, Canada West (what would become the province of Ontario) to an Irish father and Canadian mother. His restless nature and desire for adventure led him to travel west to Manitoba. In Manitoba, he established a livery business, which he ran until he set off for Edmonton in 1879. He farmed for two years in Fort Saskatchewan before finally moving to Edmonton, where he established the settlement's first livery and cartage business.

Along with a couple prominent Edmonton citizens, he formed an association aimed to restore order in the area, settling many disputes, including during the 1885 Riel Rebellion as its captain. He soon established a school board, recognizing the need for a school, which he served as president and trustee for 18 years. Shortly before Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892, he formed the Board of Trade. Upon the incorporation, he was acclaimed the town's first mayor in 1892, and the next two following years. He did not run for re-election at the end of his third term, opting to run for the seat representing Edmonton on the Territorial Legislature, which he served for six years. Following his defeat he moved to Tofield, Alberta to farm until 1905, when he returned to Edmonton and was elected to the new Legislative Assembly of Alberta as the member for Vermilion. The following year, he resigned his seat to serve as the first warden of the province's first penitentiary. After five years as warden, he moved to British Columbia to fruit farm, but he moved back to Sexsmith, Alberta 13 years later to farm, where he died in 1930.