Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation
The Ministries
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29
First Ministry
Liberal-Conservative
1
1 July 1867 - 5 Nov. 1873
Prime Minister
Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald 2
Position Title | |
---|---|
Name | Service Date / Termination Date |
Minister of Agriculture3 | |
Hon. Jean-Charles Chapais Senator 4 | 1 July 1867 - 15 Nov. 1869 |
Hon. Christopher Dunkin | 16 Nov. 1869 - 24 Oct. 1871 |
Hon. John Henry Pope | 25 Oct. 1871 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Customs5 | |
Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley 6 | 1 July 1867 - 21 Feb. 1873 |
Hon. Charles Tupper 7 | 22 Feb. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Finance8 | |
Hon. Alexander Tilloch Galt | 1 July 1867 - 7 Nov. 1867 |
Vacant | 8 Nov. 1867 - 17 Nov. 1867 |
Hon. John Rose | 18 Nov. 1867 - 30 Sept. 1869 |
Vacant | 1 Oct. 1869 - 8 Oct. 1869 |
Hon. Sir Francis Hincks | 9 Oct. 1869 - 21 Feb. 1873 |
Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley | 22 Feb. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs9 10 | |
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin 11 | 22 May 1868 - 7 Dec. 1869 |
Hon. Joseph Howe | 8 Dec. 1869 - 6 May 1873 |
Hon. James Cox Aikins Senator 11 | 7 May 1873 - 13 June 1873 |
Hon. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs | 14 June 1873 - 30 June 1873 |
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator | 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Inland Revenue12 | |
Hon. William Pearce Howland | 1 July 1867 - 14 July 1868 |
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator | 15 July 1868 - 15 Nov. 1869 |
Hon. Alexander Morris | 16 Nov. 1869 - 1 July 1872 |
Hon. Charles Tupper 7 | 2 July 1872 - 3 March 1873 |
Hon. John O'Connor 13 | 4 March 1873 - 30 June 1873 |
Hon. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs | 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of the Interior10 9 | |
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator | 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Justice and Attorney General14 | |
Hon. Sir John Alexander Macdonald | 1 July 1867 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Marine and Fisheries15 | |
Hon. Peter Mitchell Senator | 1 July 1867 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Militia and Defence16 | |
Hon. Sir George Étienne Cartier | 1 July 1867 - 20 May 1873 |
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin | 21 May 1873 - 30 June 1873 |
Hon. Hugh McDonald | 1 July 1873 - 4 Nov. 1873 |
Vacant | 5 Nov. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Postmaster General17 | |
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator 18 | 1 July 1867 - 30 June 1873 |
Hon. John O'Connor | 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
President of the Privy Council19 | |
Hon. Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair Senator | 1 July 1867 - 29 Dec. 1867 |
Vacant | 30 Dec. 1867 - 29 Jan. 1869 |
Hon. Joseph Howe 20 | 30 Jan. 1869 - 15 Nov. 1869 |
Hon. Edward Kenny Senator | 16 Nov. 1869 - 20 June 1870 |
Hon. Charles Tupper 7 | 21 June 1870 - 1 July 1872 |
Hon. John O'Connor 21 | 2 July 1872 - 3 March 1873 |
Vacant | 4 March 1873 - 13 June 1873 |
Hon. Hugh McDonald 22 | 14 June 1873 - 30 June 1873 |
Vacant | 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Minister of Public Works23 | |
Hon. William McDougall | 1 July 1867 - 27 Sept. 1869 |
Vacant | 28 Sept. 1869 - 28 Sept. 1869 |
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin | 29 Sept. 1869 - 7 Dec. 1869 |
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin | 8 Dec. 1869 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Receiver General24 | |
Vacant | 1 July 1867 - 3 July 1867 |
Hon. Edward Kenny Senator 25 | 4 July 1867 - 15 Nov. 1869 |
Hon. Jean-Charles Chapais Senator | 16 Nov. 1869 - 29 Jan. 1873 |
Hon. Théodore Robitaille | 30 Jan. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Secretary of State for the Provinces26 9 10 | |
Hon. Adams George Archibald | 1 July 1867 - 30 April 1868 |
Vacant | 1 May 1868 - 15 Nov. 1869 |
Hon. Joseph Howe | 16 Nov. 1869 - 6 May 1873 |
Hon. James Cox Aikins Senator | 7 May 1873 - 13 June 1873 |
Hon. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs 27 | 14 June 1873 - 30 June 1873 |
Secretary of State of Canada9 10 | |
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin 28 | 1 July 1867 - 7 Dec. 1869 |
Hon. James Cox Aikins Senator | 8 Dec. 1869 - 5 Nov. 1873 |
Footnotes
- [1] Sir John A. Macdonald was formally commissioned by Lord Monck on May 24, 1867 to form the first Government under Confederation. On July 1, 1867 the First Ministry assumed office. By Order in Council dated July 1, 1867 the following ministerial offices were "constituted until Parliament otherwise provides": Justice and Attorney General, Militia Customs, Finance, Public Works, Inland Revenue, Secretary of State for the Provinces, President of the Privy Council, Marine and Fisheries, Postmaster General, Agriculture, Secretary of State of Canada, and Receiver General. During the following two years statutory provision was made for most of these offices.
- [2] Macdonald was also Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
- [3] The office of Minister of Agriculture was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 53, and assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [4] Chapais was appointed Receiver General on November 16, 1869.
- [5] The office of Minister of Customs was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 43, and assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [6] Tilley was appointed Minister of Finance on February 22, 1873.
- [7] Tupper was appointed President of the Privy Council on June 21, 1870; Minister of Inland Revenue on July 2, 1872; and Minister of Customs on February 22, 1873.
- [8] The office of Minister of Finance was created by Statute 32-33 Vict., c. 4, and assented to on June 22, 1869.
- [9] The offices of Secretary of State of Canada, Registrar General of Canada and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs were created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 42, and assented to on May 22, 1868. By this Act the Secretary of State of Canada was to hold these latter two offices ex officio. By Order in Council dated December 8, 1869, pursuant to section 40 of the aforesaid Act, the duties and powers of the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs were transferred to the Secretary of State for the Provinces and were exercised by him until July 1, 1873. See Minister of the Interior.
- [10] The office of Secretary of State for the Provinces was abolished and the office of Minister of the Interior created by Statute 36 Vict., c. 4, assented to on May 3, 1873, and proclaimed in force on July 1, 1873. By this Act the Minister was to be ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. See Secretary of State of Canada.
- [11] Langevin and Aikins both also held the portfolios of the Secretary of State of Canada.
- [12] The office of Minister of Inland Revenue was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 49, and assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [13] O'Connor was appointed Postmaster General on July 1, 1873.
- [14] The offices of Minister of Justice and Attorney General were created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 39, and assented to on May 22, 1868. By this Act the Minister of Justice was to be ex officio the Attorney General of Canada.
- [15] The office of Minister of Marine and Fisheries was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 57, and assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [16] The office of Minister of Militia and Defence was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 40, assented to on May 22, 1868 and proclaimed in force on October 1, 1868.
- [17] The office of Postmaster General was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 10, assented to on December 21, 1867 and proclaimed in force on April 1, 1868.
- [18] Campbell was appointed Minister of the Interior on July 1, 1873.
- [19] The portfolio of President of the Privy Council was not specifically created by statute, but was recognized by the Salaries Act (Statute 31 Vict., c. 33), and first assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [20] Howe was appointed Secretary of State for the Provinces on November 16, 1869.
- [21] O'Connor was appointed Minister of Inland Revenue on March 4, 1873.
- [22] McDonald was appointed Minister of Militia and Defence on July 1, 1873.
- [23] The office of Minister of Public Works was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 12, and assented to on December 21, 1867.
- [24] The portfolio of Receiver General was not specifically created by statute, but was recognized by the Salaries Act (Statute 31 Vict., c. 33), and first assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [25] Kenny was appointed President of the Privy Council on November 16, 1869.
- [26] The portfolio of Secretary of State for the Provinces was not specifically created by statute, but was recognized by the Salaries Act (Statute 31 Vict., c. 33), and first assented to on May 22, 1868.
- [27] Gibbs was appointed Minister of Inland Revenue on July 1, 1873.
- [28] Langevin was appointed Minister of Public Works on December 8, 1869.