Canadian Confederation

People

• By Name
• By Province or Territory

Copyright/Source

The Fathers of Confederation at the London Conference, 1866

One of the most familiar historical images in Canada is the painting of the Fathers of Confederation. These gentlemen, the delegates to the Confederation Conferences, included John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Charles Tupper and George Brown. They were probably the most prominent figures involved in Canada's creation. However, they were not the only important people. Many others, not all of them supporters of union, played a part in the formation of our country prior to 1867. As the nation continued to grow in the years following Confederation, each new province and territory had its "founders," from the notorious, to the eccentric, to the trailblazing.

In this section you will find a collection of biographies for many of the people involved in the creation and building of Canada. Some of these people are well known, while others are relatively obscure. They are arranged alphabetically, and by the province or territory with which they are associated. "Fathers," those present at the Charlottetown, Québec and/or London Conferences, are indicated by an asterisk.