party held the balance of power, and he soon told the Senate that "we are for sale". Chris Watson, Labor's first leader, described McGregor as "a powerful force in our party because of his political sagacity and perfect loyalty". Hugh Mahon said "his memory was phenomenal, his imagination rich and vivid". McGregor was Leader of the Government in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council in each of the first three Labor governments – the short-lived Watson Government of 1904 and Andrew Fisher's first two governments (1908 to 1909 and 1910 to 1913). As Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1913 to 1914, McGregor had an unusual level of influence due to his party holding a majority in the Senate. In mid-1914, McGregor took leave from parliament due to ill health. He died from a heart condition on 13 August, at his home in Unley. His death came during the 1914 election campaign, and after he had already nominated himself as a candidate. He was given a state funeral and buried at West Terrace Cemetery. Personal life McGregor married twice but had no children. His first wife, Julia Anna Steggall, died only a few months after their marriage in 1880. He remarried in 1882 to Sarah Ann Brock (née Ritchie), who was a widow. McGregor was virtually blind by the time of his death. He experienced a gradual deterioration in his vision, which he attributed to an accident he had shortly after arriving in Australia. By the time he took his seat in the Senate, he could only read in the best lighting conditions, and eventually not at all. He compensated for his blindness with a memory described as "astounding", able to recite lengthy passages perfectly after hearing them read out loud, usually by his mother-in law. See also Hundred of McGregor References Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia 1848 births 1914 deaths Members of the Cabinet of Australia Members of the Australian Senate for South Australia Members of the Australian Senate People from Argyll and Bute 20th-century Australian politicians Scottish emigrants to Australia Australian trade unionists Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of South Australia Members of the South Australian Legislative Council Blind politicians