Arms of John Alexander Macdonald

Blazon

Quarterly: first, Argent a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure; second, Or a dexter hand couped fessways proper holding a cross-crosslet fitchée Azure; third, Or a lymphad sails furled and oars in action Sable flagged Gules; fourth, barry wavy of six Argent and Azure a salmon naiant proper; overall on a fess Vert a covered cup between two sprigs of three maple leaves Or;

Symbolism

The four quarters are the arms of the chief of Macdonald of Sleat, which Sir John A. Macdonald used during his lifetime; for example, on his bookplate. The additional fess contains two sprigs of maple leaves to indicate his Canadian and Ontarian identity, and a covered cup that honours his mother’s Scottish family of Shaw, whose arms bear such cups.