Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation

The Ministries

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Sixth Ministry

Liberal-Conservative 1
21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Prime Minister
Honourable Sir Mackenzie Bowell Senator 2

The Ministry
Position Title
NameService Date /
Termination Date
Minister of Agriculture
Hon. Auguste Réal Angers  Senator  21 Dec. 1894 - 12 July 1895
Hon. Joseph Aldéric Ouimet   13 July 1895 - 20 Dec. 1895
Hon. Walter Humphries Montague  3   21 Dec. 1895 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Donald Ferguson  Senator  6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. Walter Humphries Montague   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Controller of Customs4  
Hon. John Fisher Wood  5   24 Dec. 1895 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Sir Frank Smith  Senator  6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. John Fisher Wood   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Finance and Receiver General
Hon. George Eulas Foster   21 Dec. 1894 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell  Senator  6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. George Eulas Foster   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs6  
Hon. Thomas Mayne Daly   21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Controller of Inland Revenue7  
Hon. Edward Gawler Prior   17 Dec. 1895 - 27 April 1896

Minister of the Interior6  
Hon. Thomas Mayne Daly   21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Hon. Sir Charles Tupper   21 Dec. 1894 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Thomas Mayne Daly   6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. Arthur Rupert Dickey  8   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Marine and Fisheries
Hon. John Costigan   21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Militia and Defence
Hon. James Colebrooke Patterson  9   21 Dec. 1894 - 25 March 1895
Hon. Arthur Rupert Dickey  8   26 March 1895 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell  Senator  6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. Alphonse Desjardins  Senator  15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Minister without Portfolio
Hon. Walter Humphries Montague  3   21 Dec. 1894 - 25 March 1895
Hon. Sir Frank Smith  Senator  21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896
Hon. Donald Ferguson  Senator  2 Jan. 1895 - 27 April 1896
Hon. James Colebrooke Patterson   26 March 1895 - 1 Sept. 1895

Postmaster General
Hon. Sir Joseph Philippe René Adolphe Caron   21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

President of the Privy Council
Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell  Senator  21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Public Works
Hon. Joseph Aldéric Ouimet   21 Dec. 1894 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Railways and Canals
Hon. John Graham Haggart   21 Dec. 1894 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Joseph Aldéric Ouimet   6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. John Graham Haggart   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Secretary of State of Canada10  
Hon. Arthur Rupert Dickey  8   21 Dec. 1894 - 25 March 1895
Hon. Walter Humphries Montague  3   26 March 1895 - 20 Dec. 1895
Vacant  21 Dec. 1895 - 26 Dec. 1895
Hon. Joseph Aldéric Ouimet   27 Dec. 1895 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. Thomas Mayne Daly   6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. Sir Charles Tupper   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896

Minister of Trade and Commerce
Hon. William Bullock Ives   21 Dec. 1894 - 5 Jan. 1896
Hon. John Costigan   6 Jan. 1896 - 14 Jan. 1896
Hon. William Bullock Ives   15 Jan. 1896 - 27 April 1896
Not of the Cabinet
Position Title
NameService Date /
Termination Date
Controller of Customs4  
Hon. Nathaniel Clarke Wallace   21 Dec. 1894 - 13 Dec. 1895
Hon. John Fisher Wood   14 Dec. 1895 - 16 Dec. 1895
Hon. John Fisher Wood   17 Dec. 1895 - 23 Dec. 1895

Controller of Inland Revenue7  
Hon. John Fisher Wood   21 Dec. 1894 - 16 Dec. 1895

Solicitor General of Canada
Hon. John Joseph Curran   21 Dec. 1894 - 17 Oct. 1895
Vacant  18 Oct. 1895 - 27 April 1896

Footnotes

  • [1] On December 13, 1894, the day after the death of Sir John Thompson, Sir Mackenzie Bowell was invited by the Governor General to form a Government. The Sixth Ministry assumed office on December 21, 1894 and included fifteen ministers from the Fifth Ministry, eleven of whom retained their previous portfolios.
  • [2] Bowell was also President of the Privy Council.
  • [3] Montague was appointed Minister without Portfolio on December 21, 1894; Secretary of State of Canada on March 26, 1895; and Minister of Agriculture on December 21, 1895.
  • [4] See also Not of the Cabinet, Controller of Customs
  • [5] Wood was appointed Controller of Customs on December 17, 1895; sworn of the Privy Council and considered of the Cabinet on December 24, 1895.
  • [6] The Minister of the Interior was ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs.
  • [7] See also Not of the Cabinet, Controller of Inland Revenue.
  • [8] Dickey was appointed Secretary of State of Canada on December 21, 1894; Minister of Militia and Defence on March 26, 1895; and Minister of Justice and Attorney General on January 15, 1896.
  • [9] Patterson was appointed Minister Without Portfolio on March 26, 1895.
  • [10] The Secretary of State of Canada was ex officio the Registrar General of Canada.

The Canadian Ministry was prepared using an earlier publication (Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation) and new information compiled by the Orders in Council Division of the Privy Council Office.

Any inaccuracy or general inquiries should be brought to the attention of the Orders in Council Division at oica-ndec@pco-bcp.gc.ca.