Sir John Abbott, Prime Minister of Canada

William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / C-000697

Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg

Index

Canadian Prime Ministers Since 1867Canadian Government Biographies

Prime Minister of Canada

Prime Minister of CanadaRole of Prime Minister of CanadaCanadian Prime Ministers Quiz

Sir John Abbott

Sir John Abbott - First Among EqualsSir John Abbott - Prime Ministers of Canada

Most Popular

Shop and Ship to CanadaMinimum Wage in Canada by ProvinceAbbreviations of Provinces in Canada - Postal Abbreviations ...Canadian Consulates in U.S.Apply for a Canadian Passport

Prime Minister Sir John Abbott

About Sir John Abbott:

Sir John Abbott was Prime Minister of Canada for only 17 months and saw himself as a caretaker prime minister, stepping in on the death of Sir John A. Macdonald in 1891.

Sir John Abbott has a few notable firsts to his name:

• Sir John Abbott was the first Canadian prime minister to be born on Canadian soil.

• Sir John Abbott was the first Senator to become Prime Minister of Canada.

• Sir John Abbott was the first Canadian prime minister to be a member of both the House of Commons and the Senate.

Prime Minister of Canada:

1891-92

Birth:

March 12, 1821 in St. Andrews, Lower Canada

Death:

October 30, 1893 in Montreal, Quebec

Education:

BCL - University of McGill College

Professional Background of Sir John Abbott:

• Corporate lawyer

• Dean, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal 1855-80

• President, Canada Central Railway 1862

• Raised and commanded Argenteuil Rangers 1862-84

Political Affiliation:

Liberal-Conservative

Ridings (Electoral Districts):

• Argenteuil (provincial)
• Argenteuil (federal)

Political Career of Sir John Abbott:

• John Abbott was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1857.

• He was re-elected in 1861 and 1863 and was a member until the Canadian Confederation in 1867.

• He was appointed Solicitor General of the Province of Canada in 1862.

• John Abbott was rirst elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1867.

• He was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1887.

• He was Leader of the Government in the Senate from 1887 to 1893.

• John Abbott was also Mayor of the municipality of Montreal from 1887 to 1888.

• On the death of Sir John A. Macdonald, John Abbott became Leader of the Conservative Party and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada in 1891.

• John Abbott resigned as Prime Minister of Canada due to ill health in 1892.

• Sir John Thompson took over as Prime Minister.