Government of Canada, Privy Council Office Canada
Government of Canada, Privy Council Office
Français Home Contact Us Help Search canada.gc.ca
Site map
Guide to Canadian Ministries Since Confederation

First Ministry

LIBERAL-CONSERVATIVE[1]
1 July 1867 to 5 November 1873

PRIME MINISTER
The Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald[2]

THE MINISTRY

Minister of Agriculture[3]
Hon. Jean-Charles Chapais[4] Senator 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 Customs[5]
Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley[6] 1 July 1867 - 21 Feb. 1873
Hon. Charles Tupper[7] 22 Feb. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Minister of Finance[8]
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 Hicks 9 Oct.1869 - 21 Feb. 1873
Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley 22 Feb.1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin[9] 22 May 1868 - 7 Dec. 1869
Hon. Joseph Howe 8 Dec. 1869 - 6 May 1873
Hon. James Cox Aikins[9] Senator - Acting Minister 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 Revenue[10]
Hon. William Pearce Howland 1 July 1867 - 14 July 1868
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator - Acting Minister 15 July 1868 - 15 Nov. 1869
Hon. Alexander Morris 16 Nov. 1869 - 1 July 1872
Hon. Charles Tupper[11] 2 July 1872 - 3 Mar. 1873
Hon. John O'Connor[12] 4 Mar.1873 - 30 June 1873
Hon. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Minister of the Interior[13]
Hon. Alexander Campbell Senator 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Minister of Justice and Attorney General[14]
Hon. Sir John Alexander Macdonald 1 July 1867 - 5 Nov. 1873

Minister of Marine and Fisheries[15]
Hon. Peter Mitchell Senator 1 July 1867 - 5.Nov. 1873

Minister of Militia and Defence[16]
Hon. Sir George Étienne Cartier 1 July 1867 - 20 May 1873
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin Acting Minister 21 May 1873 - 30 June 1873
Hon. Hugh McDonald 1 July 1873 - 4 Nov. 1873
Vacant 5 Nov. 1873

Postmaster General[17]
Hon. Alexander Campbell[18] Senator 1 July 1867 - 30 June 1873
Hon. John O'Connor 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

President of the Privy Council[19]
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[21] 21 June 1870 - 1 July 1872
Hon. John O'Connor[22] 2 July 1872 - 3 Mar. 1873
Vacant 4 Mar. 1873 - 13 June 1873
Hon. Hugh McDonald[23] 14 June 1873 - 30 June 1873
Vacant 1 July 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Minister of Public Works [24]
Hon. William McDougall 1 July 1867 - 27 Sept. 1869
Vacant 28 Sept. 1869
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin Acting Minister 29 Sept. 1869 - 7 Dec.1869
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin 8 Dec. 1869 - 5 Nov. 1873

Receiver General [25]
Vacant 1 July 1867 - 3 July 1867
Hon. Edward Kenny[26] Senator 4 July 1867 - 15 Nov. 1869
Hon. Jean-Charles Chapais Senator 16 Nov. 1869 - 29 Jan. 1873
Hon. Theodore Robitaille 30 Jan. 1873 - 5 Nov. 1873

Secretary of State of Canada[27]
Hon. Hector Louis Langevin[28] 1 July 1867 - 7 Dec. 1869
Hon. James Cox Aikins Senator 8 Dec. 1869 - 5 Nov. 1873

Secretary of State for the Provinces[29]
Hon. Adams George Archibald 1 July 1867 - 30 Apr. 1868
Vacant 1 May 1868 - 15 Nov. 1869
Hon. Joseph Howe 16 Nov. 1869 - 6 May 1873
Hon. James Cox Aikins Senator - Acting Minister 7 May 1873 - 13 June 1873
Hon. Thomas Nicholson Gibbs[30] 14 June 1873 - 30 June 1873

 


[1] Sir John A. Macdonald was formally commissioned by Lord Monck on 24 May 1867 to form the first Government under Confederation. On 1 July 1867 the First Ministry assumed office. By Order in Council dated 1 July 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 22 May 1868.

[4] Chapais was appointed Receiver General on 16 Nov. 1869.

[5] The office of Minister of Customs was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 43, and assented to on 22 May 1868.

[6] Tilley was appointed Minister of Finance on 22 Feb. 1873.

[7] Tupper was also Minister of Inland Revenue.

[8] The office of Minister of Finance was created by Statute 32-33 Vict., c. 4, and assented to on 22 June 1869.

[9] Langevin and Aikins both also held the portfolios of the Secretary of State of Canada.

[10] The office of Minister of Inland Revenue was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 49, and assented to on 22 May 1868.

[11] Tupper was also Minister of Customs.

[12] O'Connor was appointed Postmaster General on 1 July 1873.

[13] 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 3 May 1873, and proclaimed in force on 1 July 1873. By this Act the Minister was to be ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. See Secretary of State of Canada.

[14] The offices of Minister of Justice and Attorney General were created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 39, and assented to on 22 May 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 22 May 1868.

[16] The office of Minister of Militia and Defence was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 40, assented to on 22 May 1868 and proclaimed in force on 1 Oct. 1868.

[17] The office of Postmaster General was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 10, assented to on 21 Dec. 1867 and proclaimed in force on 1 Apr. 1868.

[18] Campbell was appointed Minister of the Interior on 1 July 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 22 May 1868.

[20] Howe was appointed Secretary of State for the Provinces on 16 Nov. 1869.

[21] Tupper was appointed Minister of Inland Revenue on 2 July 1872.

[22] O'Connor was appointed Minister of Inland Revenue on 4 Mar. 1873.

[23] McDonald was appointed Minister of Militia and Defence on 1 July 1873.

[24] The office of Minister of Public Works was created by Statute 31 Vict., c. 12, and assented to on 21 Dec. 1867.

[25] 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 22 May 1868.

[26] Kenny was appointed President of the Privy Council on 16 Nov. 1869.

[27] 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 22 May 1868. By this Act the Secretary of State of Canada was to hold these latter two offices ex officio. By Order in Council dated 8 Dec. 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 1 July 1873. See Minister of the Interior.

[28] Langevin was appointed Minister of Public Works on 8 Dec. 1869.

[29] 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 22 May 1868. See Secretary of State of Canada and Minister of the Interior.

[30] Gibbs was appointed Minister of Inland Revenue on 1 July 1873.

 

[Previous] [Table of Contents] [Next]


	Return to top of page
Last Modified: 2006-10-02 Top of Page Important Notices