Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott - biography.

Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott - biography. Third prime minister of Canada Date Baptized March 12, 1821 Death October 30, 1893 Place of Birth Saint Andrews, Lower Canada, now in Québec Constituencies Argenteuil, Québec (1857- 1874, 1881-1887) Political Party Conservative Term 1891-1892 Significant Act Began a revision of the criminal code Career 1857 Won election to the legislative assembly of the Province of Canada 1862-1863 Served as solicitor general 1867-1874 Sat in the federal legislature of the newly formed Dominion of Canada 1874 Lost election due to his involvement in the Pacific Railway scandal, which revealed that the chief promoter of the Canadian Pacific Railway had donated money to the Conservative Party 1881-1887 Served as a member of the House of Commons 1887-1892 Served in the Senate 1887-1891 Served as minister without portfolio in the Cabinet of Sir John Macdonald 1887-1889 Served as mayor of Montréal 1891 Became prime minister after Sir John Macdonald died and Sir John Thompson, the minister of justice, refused the post 1891-1892 Served as president of the Privy Council of Canada 1892 Received the title of Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George 1892 Resigned the post of prime minister due to poor health Did You Know Abbott was the first Canadian-born prime minister. Abbott was the first prime minister to remain in the Senate while holding office. As a young lawyer, Abbott signed the 1849 Annexation Manifesto, which called for Canadian colonies to join the United States. He subsequently recanted his endorsement. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.