Biography:

Dr. John Alexander MacGregor was born in Middleville (Lanark County), Ontario on the 5th of May, 1872.  Dr. MacGregor was the eldest of 6 children born to Alexander Stewart MacGregor and the former Elizabeth Gemmill Robertson.  His younger siblings included; Robert Andrew MacGregor, William David MacGregor, Elizabeth Gemmil MacGregor, Margaret Stewart MacGregor and Albert Douglas MacGregor (who died at the age of 23 of uraemia).  According to the 1891 census, the MacGregor family was living in the City of London.  Further it was recorded that Mr. MacGregor was a life insurance agent and Dr. MacGregor was a medical student.

Dr. MacGregor graduated M.D. from the University of Western Ontario in 1892.  Dr. MacGregor set up his medical practice in Kent Bridge, Ontario.

Dr. MacGregor married Matilda Maud Langford on the 27th of January, 1897 at the home of the bride in Harwich Twp, Chatham-Kent.  Mrs. MacGregor was born in September of 1876, the youngest child of Edward Paul Langford and the former Annie Houston.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Anna Marie Langford, Albert Edward Langford and Elizabeth “Bessie” Langford (who died at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham at the age of 36).

After their marriage, Dr. and Mrs. MacGregor moved to Minden, Nebraska.  Their first child, Langford Stewart MacGregor was born in Minden, Nebraska on the 23rd of September, 1900.  In 1905, the MacGregor family moved to London, Ontario.  A son, John Alexander MacGregor was born in London, on the 29th of July, 1905.

Dr. and Mrs. MacGregor purchased a home in London, located at 496 Waterloo Street.  This beautiful home has since been designated as a Heritage Home.

In 1920, Dr. MacGregor was appointed as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario lecturing on bacteriology and pathology.  In 1925 he became Professor Emeritus.  Throughout his life he was a tireless worker and he read extensively keeping abreast of advancing medical innovation.

Dr. and Mrs. MacGregor’s son John MacGregor, died of tuberculosis on the 21st of March, 1927.  He was buried in the mausoleum at Woodland Cemetery in London.  Their son Dr. Langford Stewart MacGregor practiced medicine in Kitchener, Ontario.

Over the course of his career, Dr. MacGregor served as the President the London Academy of Medicine and of the Ontario Medical Association.  He was an examiner for the Medical Council of Canada.

Dr. MacGregor died at his residence on the 20th of September, 1939.  Mrs. MacGregor died in London on the 22nd of May, 1952. They were buried in the Mausoleum at Woodland Cemetery.  Their sons are also interred at Woodland Cemetery.

*Dr. MacGregor’s brother Dr. Robert Andrew MacGregor practiced medicine in Michigan and for many years, he was employed by the Michigan State Prison.  He was drafted during WWII by the United States Medical Corp.  Mrs. Robert MacGregor was a first cousin to Dr. Charles Baldwin Langford who is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

Photo of Dr. MacGregor courtesy of Western University Library.

Note: Due to structural damage at the mausoleum, wooden support’s prevented an unobstructed photograph of the memorial stone.  Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.