Joint Premier
Serves briefly as joint premier before Confederation.
Role range: 1857-1858
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
John Alexander Macdonald Biography and Timeline
Follow John Alexander Macdonald through 17 dated historical records for Canada.
John Alexander Macdonald, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
17Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1857–1891Years on this page
1857
1864
Great Coalition
Helps form the Great Coalition to pursue Confederation.
Role range: 1864-1867
Charlottetown Conference
Attends the Charlottetown Conference where Confederation is discussed.
Role range: 1864-1864
Quebec Conference
Helps draft the Quebec Resolutions for Confederation.
Role range: 1864-1864
1866
London Conference
Helps finalize Confederation terms at the London Conference.
Role range: 1866-1867
1867
Confederation
Becomes first prime minister as Confederation creates the Dominion of Canada.
Role range: 1867-1867 – 1867-1873
First Election
Wins the first federal election after Confederation.
Role range: 1867-1867 – 1867-1873
Prime Minister of Canada
Appointed Prime Minister of Canada
Role range: 1867-1873
1869
Rupert Land Purchase
Arranges transfer of Rupert Land from the Hudson Bay Company.
Role range: 1869-1870 – 1867-1873
1870
Manitoba Act
Oversees passage of the Manitoba Act.
Role range: 1870-1870 – 1867-1873
1871
British Columbia Joins Confederation
Brings British Columbia into Confederation with a railway promise.
Role range: 1871-1871 – 1867-1873
1873
Pacific Scandal
Resigns after the Pacific Scandal damages his government.
Role range: 1873-1873 – 1867-1873
1878
National Policy
Returns to power advocating tariffs, railways and western settlement.
Role range: 1878-1878 – 1878-1891
Prime Minister of Canada
Appointed Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada
Role range: 1878-1891
1880
Arctic Islands
Accepts transfer of British Arctic territories to Canada.
Role range: 1880-1880 – 1878-1891
1885
Execution of Louis Riel
Refuses clemency before Louis Riel is executed.
Role range: 1885-1885 – 1878-1891
1891
Death of John Alexander Macdonald
Dies in office after dominating early Canadian federal politics.
Role range: 1878-1891
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.