3rd Canadian Ministry

The Third Canadian Ministry was the second cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald. It governed Canada from 17 October 1878 to 6 June 1891, including the 4th, 5th, and 6th Canadian Parliaments, as well as the first three months of the 7th. The government was formed by the Liberal-Conservative Party in coalition with the old Conservative Party of Canada. Macdonald was also Prime Minister in the First Canadian Ministry.

Ministries

Sir John A. Macdonald in November 1883.

• Prime Minister
  • 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: Sir John A. Macdonald

• Minister of Agriculture
  • 17 October 1878 – 24 September 1885: John Henry Pope
  • 25 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Carling

• Minister of Customs
  • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
  • 19 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: Mackenzie Bowell

• Minister of Finance
  • 17 October 1878 – 10 November 1885: Samuel Leonard Tilley
  • 11 November 1885 – 9 December 1885: Vacant
  • 10 December 1885 – 26 January 1887: Archibald Woodbury McLelan
  • 27 January 1887 – 22 May 1888: Charles Tupper
  • 23 May 1888 – 28 May 1888: Vacant
  • 29 May 1888 – 6 June 1891: George Eulas Foster

• Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
  • 17 October 1878 – 16 October 1883: The Minister of the Interior (Ex Officio)
    • 17 October 1878 – 16 October 1883: John Alexander Macdonald
  • 17 October 1883 – 2 October 1887: The President of the Privy Council (Ex officio)
    • 17 October 1883 – 2 October 1887: John Alexander Macdonald
  • 3 October 1887 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of the Interior (Ex Officio)
    • 3 October 1887 – 21 April 1888: Thomas White
    • 22 April 1888 – 7 May 1888: Vacant
    • 8 May 1888 – 24 September 1888: John Alexander Macdonald (Acting)
    • 25 September 1888 – 6 June 1891: Edgar Dewdney

• Minister of Inland Revenue
  • 17 October 1878 – 25 October 1878: Vacant
  • 26 October 1878 – 28 October 1880: Louis François Georges Baby
  • 29 October 1880 – 7 November 1880: Vacant
  • 8 November 1880 – 22 May 1882: James Cox Aikins
  • 23 May 1882 – 6 June 1891: John Costigan

• Minister of the Interior
  • 17 October 1878 – 16 October 1883: John Alexander Macdonald
  • 17 October 1883 – 4 August 1885: David Lewis Macpherson
  • 5 August 1885 – 21 April 1888: Thomas White
  • 22 April 1888 – 7 May 1888: Vacant
  • 8 May 1888 – 24 September 1888: John Alexander Macdonald (Acting)
  • 25 September 1888 – 6 June 1891: Edgar Dewdney

• Minister of Justice
  • 17 October 1878 – 19 May 1881: James McDonald
  • 20 May 1881 – 24 September 1885: Alexander Campbell
  • 25 September 1885: Vacant
  • 26 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Sparrow David Thompson

• Attorney General of Canada
  • 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of Justice (Ex officio)
    • 17 October 1878 – 19 May 1881: James McDonald
    • 20 May 1881 – 24 September 1885: Alexander Campbell
    • 25 September 1885: Vacant
    • 26 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Sparrow David Thompson

• Minister of Marine and Fisheries
  • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
  • 19 October 1878 – 9 July 1882: James Colledge Pope
  • 10 July 1882 – 9 December 1885: Archibald Woodbury McLelan
  • 10 December 1885 – 28 May 1888: George Eulas Foster
  • 29 May 1888 – 31 May 1888: Vacant
  • 1 June 1888 – 6 June 1891: Charles Hibbert Tupper

• Minister of Militia and Defence
  • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
  • 19 October 1878 – 15 January 1880: Louis François Rodrigue Masson
  • 16 January 1880 – 7 November 1880: Alexander Campbell
  • 8 November 1880 – 6 June 1891: Joseph Philippe René Adolphe Caron

• Postmaster General
  • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
  • 19 October 1878 – 19 May 1879: Hector Louis Langevin
  • 20 May 1879 – 15 January 1880: Alexander Campbell
  • 16 January 1880 – 7 November 1880: John O'Connor
  • 8 November 1880 – 19 May 1881: Alexander Campbell
  • 20 May 1881 – 22 May 1882: John O'Connor
  • 23 May 1882 – 24 September 1885: John Carling
  • 25 September 1885 – 26 January 1887: Alexander Campbell
  • 27 January 1887 – 9 July 1888: Archibald Woodbury McLelan
  • 10 July 1888: Vacant
  • 11 July 1888 – 5 August 1888: John Carling (Acting)
  • 6 August 1888 – 6 June 1891: John Graham Haggart

• President of the Privy Council
  • 17 October 1878 – 15 January 1880: John O'Connor
  • 16 January 1880 – 31 July 1880: Louis François Rodrigue Masson
  • 1 August 1880 – 7 November 1880: Vacant
  • 8 November 1880 – 19 May 1881: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
  • 20 May 1881 – 9 July 1882: Archibald Woodbury McLelan
  • 10 July 1882 – 16 October 1883: Vacant
  • 17 October 1883 – 27 November 1889: John Alexander Macdonald
  • 28 November 1889 – 30 April 1891: Charles Carrol Colby
  • 1 May 1891 – 6 June 1891: Vacant

• Minister of Public Works
  • 17 October 1878 – 19 May 1879: Charles Tupper
  • 20 May 1879 – 6 June 1891: Hector Louis Langevin

• Minister of Railways and Canals
  • 20 May 1879 – 28 May 1884: Charles Tupper
  • 29 May 1884 – 24 September 1885: John Henry Pope (Acting)
  • 25 September 1885 – 1 April 1889: John Henry Pope
  • 2 April 1889 – 9 April 1889: Vacant
  • 10 April 1889 – 27 November 1889: John Alexander Macdonald (Acting)
  • 28 November 1889 – 6 June 1891: John Alexander Macdonald

• Receiver General of Canada
  • 17 October 1878 – 7 November 1878: Vacant
  • 8 November 1878 – 19 May 1879: Alexander Campbell
  • 20 May 1879 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of Finance (Ex officio)
    • 20 May 1879 – 10 November 1885: Samuel Leonard Tilley
    • 11 November 1885 – 9 December 1885: Vacant
    • 10 December 1885 – 26 January 1887: Archibald Woodbury McLelan
    • 27 January 1887 – 22 May 1888: Charles Tupper
    • 23 May 1888 – 28 May 1888: Vacant
    • 29 May 1888 – 6 June 1891: George Eulas Foster

• Secretary of State of Canada
  • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
  • 19 October 1878 – 7 November 1880: James Cox Aikins
  • 8 November 1880 – 19 May 1881: John O'Connor
  • 20 May 1881 – 28 July 1882: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
  • 29 July 1882 – 6 June 1891: Joseph Adolphe Chapleau

• Registrar General of Canada
  • 17 October 1878 – ? June 1891: The Secretary of State of Canada (Ex officio)
    • 17 October 1878 – 18 October 1878: Vacant
    • 19 October 1878 – 7 November 1880: James Cox Aikins
    • 8 November 1880 – 19 May 1881: John O'Connor
    • 20 May 1881 – 28 July 1882: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
    • 29 July 1882 – 6 June 1891: Joseph Adolphe Chapleau

• Minister without Portfolio
  • 8 November 1878 – 10 February 1880: Robert Duncan Wilmot
  • 11 February 1880 – 16 October 1883: David Lewis Macpherson
  • 2 August 1882 – 6 June 1891: Frank Smith
  • 13 May 1887 – 6 June 1891: John Joseph Caldwell Abbott

Succession

Preceded by 2nd Canadian Ministry

Canadian Ministries 1878–1891

Succeeded by 4th Canadian Ministry