Skip navigation links (access key: Z)Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives CanadaSymbol of the Government of Canada
Français - Version française de cette pageHome - The main page of the Institution's websiteContact Us - Institutional contact informationHelp - Information about using the institutional websiteSearch - Search the institutional websitecanada.gc.ca - Government of Canada website

Graphical elementGraphical element
Introduction
Alone at the Top
The Path to Power
Leading Canada
Private Life
Afterwards
Graphical element
Profiles
Speeches
Comments
Graphical element
Banner: First Among Equals: The Prime Minister in Canadian Life and Politics
Sir Mackenzie Bowell
Sir Mackenzie Bowell.

Quick Facts

1823 - 1917

Term(s) of Office: 
December 21, 1894 - April 27, 1896

Born

  • December 27, 1823, Rickinghall, England
  • Emigrated to Canada in 1832

Education

  • Apprenticed as a printer with The Intelligencer, Belleville, Ontario 1834
  • Teaching diploma from Sydney Normal School, Hastings, Ontario 1841

Personal Life

  • Married 1847, Harriet Moore (1829 - 1884)
  • Four sons, five daughters

Professional Life

  • Printer, editor and later owner of The Intelligencer, Belleville
  • Businessman
  • 1858 - 1865 Ensign, Belleville Rifle Company
  • 1867 - 1872 Major, 49th Hastings Battalion
  • 1870 - 1878 Grandmaster of Orange Order of British North America

Political Party

  • Liberal-Conservative
  • 1894 - 1896 Party Leader

Constituencies

  • 1867 - 1892 North Hastings, Ontario

Other Ministries

  • 1878 - 1892 Customs
  • 1892 Militia and Defence
  • 1892 - 1894 Trade and Commerce
  • 1894 - 1896 President of the Privy Council

Political Record

  • Trade mission to Australia and promotion of submarine cable link between North America and Australia, 1894
  • Attempted to re-establish a separate school system in Manitoba 1895
  • Senator 1892 - 1917
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate 1893 - 1896
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate 1896 - 1906
  • The second Prime Minister to lead the country from the Senate

Died

  • December 10, 1917, Belleville, Ontario
  • Grave site: Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Ontario

Source:Canada's Prime Ministers, 1867 - 1994. [Ottawa]: National Archives of Canada, c1994. 20 p.

Bowell: main page

Proactive Disclosure