Fathers of Confederation, Part 1

Author: David Newman
Published on: Jul 3, 2001

On Sunday, Canada celebrated its 134th year of confederation. The plan of confederation was at first a plan to unite the Maritime portion, that is Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. When heard about the plan, Canada came into the act and said: "Why don't you join us, sure we'll be in charge, most likely, oh and we'll name the new country Canada!" Anyway, enough of that. Here is a short discription of the men who made this country at the three conferences: The 33 Fathers of Confederation. In parenthesis is the province they were representing.

Sir Adams George Archibald (Nova Scotia) was born in Truro, NS, May 18, 1814. He was involved in the struggle for responsible government and was elected as a Liberal in the Legislature. At Joseph Howe's resignation he became leader of the opposition against Tupper's government. He was invited to the conference at Charlottetown. In 1870, he became Lieutenant-Governor of Manitobaa and letter that of Nova Scotia. He died December 14, 18 92.

George Brown (Canada) was born near Edinburgh in Scotland, November 29, 1818. At 20 years old he moved to New York and latter Toronto. There he founded the Globe, a reform (Liberal) newspaper. He reorganised the Reform Party and was premier for a while, of Canada West. Although against MacDonald in most affairs he joined him when it came to Confederation. He worked very hard at the conferences even though he was at odds with Macdonald and especially Galt. He believed that in the new confederation the Conservatives would be better as leaders if the Liberals were the opposition. But when MacDonald created the Liberal-Conservative Party, Brown was defeated personally in 1867. He became a Senator in 1873 but returned to editing his paper. He was murdered by an employee in 1880.

Sir Alexander Campbell (Canada) was born in Yorkshire, England, March 9, 1822. He was brought to and was raised in St. Hyacinthe, Lower Canada. At 36, he was elected to the legislative council of the united Canada. He was invited to the Charlottetown conference and that of Quebec. He was given a seat in the senate at confederation and was knighted in 1878. He became Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1887. He died May 24, 1892.

Sir Frederick Carter (Newfoundland) was born in St John's, NFLD February 12, 1819. He became member of the legislature in 1855. He became Speaker of the House from 1861 to 1864 and therefore a delegate to the Quebec Conference. He was elected Premier in 1865 but defeated over Confederation in 1868. He became premier again from 1874-1878. He was knigthed in 1878. He died March 1, 1900.

Sir Georges-Etienne Cartier (Canada) was born in Saint-Antoine, Lower Canada, September 6, 1814. He was educated in Montreal where he opened a law firm in 1835. In 1837, he joined in with the fighters for responsible government of Papineau. He then entered politics becoming a very good friend of MacDonald. He was a great believer in the Grand Trunk Railway and believed his fellow Francophones should get into this commercial field to be even with the Anglophones. He was a great believer in Confederation, since it offered a better chance of survival than the union between both Canadas had. He was an important part of the making of confederation and in MacDonald's government. In 1872, he sailed to England to improve his health but died there May 20, 1873.

Edward Barron Chandler (New Brunswick) was born in Amherst, NS, August 22, 1800. He then moved to New Brunswick. He was first elected to Legislature in 1827 which he held until 1836. From 1844 to 1858 he was on the executive council. He was a delegate to the conferences. He oversaw the Martime portion of the building of the railrays and became Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunwick in 1878. He died February 6, 1880.

Jean-Charles Chapais (Canada) was born in Rivière-Ouelle, Lower Canada in 1811. He became the first mayor of Saint-Denis and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1851. He was present at the Quebec conference. In 1867, he became the first Minister of Agriculture. In 1868 he was appointed to the Senate. He died in 1885.

James Cockburn (Canada) was born at Berwick, England, February 13, 1819 but moved to York (Toronto) in 1832. He was elected to Canada's legilature in 1861 and latter, as solicitor general, he was a delegate at the Quebec conference. Cockburn became the Dominion's first Speaker of the house. He died August 14, 1883.

George H. Coles (Prince Edward Island) was born in Prince Edward Island, September 20, 1810. He was elected to the Legislature in 1842. He then switched party from Tory to Reform, pushing for Responsible government under which he became Prime Minister of Prince Edward Island in 1849. He was against Confederation and was a major reason that Prince Edward Island didn't join confederation in 1867. He died in Charlottetown, August 21, 1875.

Robert Barry Dickey (Nova Scotia) was born in Amherst, NS, November 10, 1811. He wasn't very into politics but his fellow Novascotian Charles Tupper suggested he take an appointment to the legislative council. He was chosen as conservative delegate to the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences. After confederation he became a senator. He died July 14, 1903.

Charles Fisher (New Brunwick) was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 15, 1808. In 1837 he was elected to the legislature. Fisher became Prime Minister of New Bruwnwick in 1854 as a reformer. He went to the Quebec conference and latter the London conference. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1867 but the next year he became a member of the supreme court of New Brunswick. He died in Fredericton in 1880.

Next week the continuation of the Fathers of Confederation.