Historedia
Person

John A. Macdonald

Events
9
Episodes
16
Years
1864–1894

Every event in Historedia whose sources name John A. Macdonald, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences, 1864

    1864

    Role: Leading figure in discussions and conferences

    1. September 1–9, 1864 · Charlottetown, Prince Edward IslandCharlottetown Conference

      Delegates from Maritime provinces and Canada met in Charlottetown to discuss union, shifting focus from Maritime Union to federal federation.

    2. October 10–27, 1864 · Quebec CityQuebec Conference

      Delegates met in Quebec City to finalize negotiations and agree on the Seventy-Two Resolutions for Confederation.

  2. First Canadian general election returns Macdonald's Conservatives to government

    1867

    Role: Prime Minister and Conservative Leader

    1. August 7 to September 20, 1867 · Federal Electoral DistrictsFirst Federal Election

      The first federal election in Canada was held from August 7 to September 20, 1867, to elect members to the House of Commons.

  3. The British North America Act creates the Dominion of Canada

    1867

    Role: First Prime Minister of Canada

    1. 1867 · Capital of the new countryEstablishment of Ottawa as Capital

      Ottawa became the capital of the new country in 1867, although the site was still incomplete.

    2. 1867-03-29 · Parliament in WestminsterRoyal Assent of the British North America Act

      Queen Victoria granted royal assent to the British North America Act on March 29, 1867, following its passage in Parliament.

    3. 1867-07-01 · Dominion of CanadaFormation of the Dominion of Canada

      The union of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into the Dominion of Canada took effect on July 1, 1867.

  4. Manitoba created as a Canadian province

    1870–1871

    Role: Leading figure in establishment

    1. 1870 · Red River ColonyMétis Land Rights Provisions

      The Act guaranteed land titles for Métis farmers and allocated 1.4 million acres for their children.

    2. 12 May 1870 · WestminsterRoyal Assent and Provincial Creation

      The Manitoba Act received royal assent on May 12, 1870, creating Manitoba as the fifth province of Canada.

    3. 1871 · Imperial ParliamentConfirmation of Federal Authority

      The Imperial Parliament confirmed the federal government's power to create new provinces through the Constitution Act, 1871.

  5. Alexander Mackenzie becomes second Prime Minister of Canada

    1873–1874

    Role: Former Prime Minister

    1. November 1873 · CanadaMackenzie Forms Government

      Following Macdonald's resignation, Governor General Lord Dufferin called upon Mackenzie to form a new government.

    2. 1874 · Canada1874 Federal Election

      Mackenzie and the Liberals won a majority government in the 1874 federal election.

  6. John A. Macdonald returns as Prime Minister of Canada

    1878

    Role: Prime Minister (returned 1878)

    1. 17 September 1878 · Federal jurisdictionElection Result

      The September 17, 1878 election ended Alexander Mackenzie's Liberal government after only one term in office.

  7. Canadian Pacific Railway construction completed at Craigellachie

    1885

    Role: Prime Minister

    1. 1885-11-07 · CraigellachieDriving of the Last Spike

      CPR director Donald Smith drove the last spike at Craigellachie, British Columbia, on November 7, 1885, completing the transcontinental railway construction.

  8. Louis Riel executed for high treason at Regina

    1885

    Role: Prime Minister

    1. 16 November 1885 · North-West Mounted Police barracksExecution at Regina

      Louis Riel was hanged for high treason on 16 November 1885 at the North-West Mounted Police barracks in Regina.

  9. John Thompson becomes Canada's fourth prime minister

    1892–1894

    Role: Former Prime Minister

    1. 1892 · CanadaThompson Becomes Prime Minister

      John Sparrow David Thompson assumed the office of Prime Minister in 1892, succeeding John Abbott.

    2. 1894 · CanadaThompson's Death in Office

      Thompson died in 1894, becoming the second prime minister to die in office.

Sources

  1. John A. Macdonald Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-14
  2. 1867 Canadian federal election Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-11
  3. Canadian Confederation Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06
  4. Manitoba Act, 1870 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-01
  5. Alexander Mackenzie (politician) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-06
  6. Pacific Scandal Wikipedia, revision of 2026-02-27
  7. Louis Riel Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
  8. John Sparrow David Thompson Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-15