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McKinnon, Hugh, Chief of
Police of Belleville, was born in the township of Vaughan, York, on the
4th May, 1843. He is a son of Martin McKinnon, and Flora Lamont, daughter
of Mr. Larnont, of Argyleshire, Scotland. Martin McKinnon was born in the
Island of Mull, Argyleshire, Scotland, and came to this country in 1819,
settling in the County of York. Here he engaged in the business of general
merchant, at the place now known as Maple, and retired to the more quiet
life of a farmer about 1834. He died in 1858. We may add that Mr. McKinnon
figured prominently in the well known "Vaughan Rectory case," now a matter
of. history. There was a family of eleven children, the subject of this
sketch being the youngest son. Hugh McKinnon received a thorough
education, concluding his studies in the City of Hamilton. At the age of
nineteen, he entered the law office of Thomson & McKinnon, Hamilton, where
he remained for three years. In 1865, however, he decided to relinquish
this occupation, and in the same year received the appointment of
Provincial and Dominion detective, having his head-quarters at Hamilton.
Since that time his name has been pretty constantly and prorninently
before the public, he having had charge for the Crown of some very notable
cases. Among these may be mentioned the celebrated Caledonian murder case;
the Lucan and Biddulph outrages committed by the Donnelly gang, who
subsequently were so ruthlessly murdered; and recently the Lazier murder,
in the County of Prince Edward. In connection with his official position,
Mr. McKinnon can relate many startling and interesting stories. In 1877,
he received the appointment of chief of the police of the City of
Belleville, and resigned the position of Dominion detective. He has since
resided in Belleville, holding the office mentioned, besides being high
Constable for the County of Hastings. Mr. McKinnon is a Freemason, and
belongs to Belleville lodge, No 123; is an Oddfellow; a member of the
Caledonian Society of Hamilton, and was president of SL Andrew’s Society
of BelIeville for two years. Mr. McKinnon has always taken a lively
interest in athletics, and has occupied a prominent place in the arena for
several years. At the International games held in Toronto in 1875, he
succeeded in winning the medal given to the "best general athlete." He
then visited all the prominent cities in the United States, including
Buffalo, Troy, Providence, Boston and New York, victory following him
wherever be competed. On the third day of August, 1876 he competed at
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, for, the heavy weight championship of
North America, and was successful, he having won the championship, two
handsome medals and $400. The presentation was made by His Excellency
Lieutenant Governor Sir Robert Hodgins. His next and crowning victory was
at the International games, held in Philadelphia
on the 14th and 15th days of August following, when he succeeded in
winning the International medal in the finest cornpetition ever seen in
the United States. He then extended his tour to
Baltimore, Washington, Brooklyn, Troy, New Haven, Providence, Boston, and
finally to New York, in all of which places he was successful in retaining
his laurels. In the these competitions the most noted athletes in the
world took part. Mr. McKinnon now possesses no
fewer than forty-three gold and silver medals, won by himself in his most
remarkable and prominent career as an athlete. In politics he is a
Reformer, and in religion a Presbyterian. He married, in 1873, Jennie,
daughter of John Lamont, of Chatham. |
