Mowat, Sir Oliver

(1820-1903)

   Born in Kingston, Ontario. Educated there; called to the bar of Upper Canada, 1841, and practised in Kingston and Toronto. In 1857-1864 represented South Ontario in the Canada Assembly; in 1858 provincial secretary in the Brown-Dorion ministry; postmaster-general in the Macdonald-Dorion administration, 1863-1864, and in the Taché coalition government, 1864. From 1864 to 1872 vice-chancellor of Ontario. In 1872 premier and attorney-general of Ontario, and held office until 1896. In 1896 minister of justice in the Dominion Cabinet, with leadership in the Senate; and in 1897 lieutenant-governor of Ontario, a position he held until his death.

   Index: B Member of brief Brown ministry, 102; on committee of Anti-Slavery Society, 112; speech on Confederation, 1859, 135; George Brown's letter to, on his contemplated retirement from the leadership, 141; opposes proposal that opposition members should enter government, to further Confederation movement, 157; enters coalition government, 158; reëlected, 160; favours elective Senate, 164; his successful fight for provincial rights, 207. Md Enters Macdonald's office as a student, 6; succeeds Edward Blake as premier of Ontario, and leader of Liberal party, 252; his characteristics, 252; takes prominent part in Ontario boundary dispute, 252-258. T Enters coalition ministry, 69; attends Quebec Conference, 76.

   Bib.: Dent, Can. Por. and Last Forty Years; Morgan, Can. Men; Biggar, Sir Oliver Mowat; Clarke, Sixty Years in Upper Canada.