A. G. L. McNaughton (1887-1966) National Historic Person

Historical importance: influential leader for more than 50 years in 20th century Canada; impressive scientific career; significant role during the First and Second World Wars; notable diplomatic career in the post-war decades at several international organizations.

Commemorative plaque: no plaque installed^{Footnote 1}

A. G. L. McNaughton (1887–1966)

Born in Moosomin, North-West Territories (now Saskatchewan) in 1887, A. G. L. McNaughton played a noteworthy role in Canadian national life as a scientist, soldier, politician, and diplomat. He made important contributions to the Canadian war effort as an artillery officer in the First World War, co-invented the forerunner of radar, served as president of the National Research Council, and represented Canada in senior diplomatic roles following the Second World War.

In 1909, McNaughton joined the Canadian Militia and served as an artillery officer, rising to the rank of major and commanding a battery in Montréal by the outbreak of war in 1914. As head of the Canadian Counter-Battery Office for the Canadian Corps in the First World War, McNaughton used his scientific training in engineering to invent or perfect counterbattery artillery techniques such as “flash-spotting” and “sound-ranging” for the Canadian Corps, leading to major victories such as Vimy Ridge in 1917 and the Hundred Days Campaign in 1918. At Vimy Ridge, McNaughton’s counter-battery artillery forces destroyed most German guns facing the Canadians, leading to the successful capture of the ridge. He is widely considered one of the foremost artillery officers or “gunners” of the war.

McNaughton also made important contributions to science. Before the war, he studied hydroelectric engineering and physics at McGill University. Then, in 1925, he co-invented the cathode ray direction finder (CRDF). The CRDF was a device used as a navigation aid for airplanes and for detecting weather storms and a direct forerunner of radar, a war-winning tool for Canada and its allies at sea and in the air during the Second World War. He also served as president of the National Research Council from 1935 to 1939, where he led the effort to coordinate scientific-military research activities between the National Research Council, Department of National Defence, and universities. This led to innovative scientific research and breakthroughs in the military application of radio, radar, and ballistics prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

During the Second World War, McNaughton led the First Canadian Infantry Division in 1939 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General and commander of Canada’s overseas forces by 1942. After presiding over the disasters of Hong Kong (1941) and Dieppe (1942), McNaughton retired from the military. As Minister of National Defence from 1944 to 1945, he insisted that Canadian forces fight as a single national unit at the end of the conflict to boost national morale and help defeat Nazi Germany in Northwest Europe.

 

After the war, McNaughton served as a leading Canadian diplomat at several international organizations. He was Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations (1948–1949), chairman of the Canadian section of the Permanent Joint Board on Defence (1950–1959), and Canada’s delegate to the International Joint Commission (1950–1962). In this latter role, McNaughton was involved in bilateral negotiations between the Canadian and American governments to build the St. Lawrence Seaway, safeguarding Canadian interests in the post-war era.

“Andrew McNaughton was at the centre of much of Canada’s history, yet he was guided by early lessons learned in the Canadian wilderness surrounding his birthplace of Moosomin, NWT (now Saskatchewan.) 2026 marks 60 years since his passing - a fitting time to learn about, and reflect on, a truly remarkable life that did much to shape present-day Canada."

This press backgrounder was prepared at the time of the Ministerial announcement in 2026.

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