July 1, 1867

The Dominion of Canada came into existence today by virtue of the British North America Act, an Act of the Imperial Parliament, providing for the union of the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

Appointed Prime Minister by the Governor-General, Charles Stanley, 4th Viscount of Monck, John A. Macdonald’s first acts the head of the new country’s government was to appoint, by Orders-in-Council, the Lieutenants-Governor of the provinces, and to establish a number of government departments and their heads.

Introduced, considered, and approved, on July 1, 1867:

Order-in-Council 1867-0001 appointed

• Major-General Sir Henry William Stisted, KCB, as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
• Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, KCMG, QC, as Lieutenant-Governor of Québec
• Lieutenant-General Sir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet of Kars GCB, as Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia
• Major-General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle, KCMG, as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.

Order-in-Council 1867-0002 established the new government’s departments and appointed their heads, as follows:

• Minister Justice and Attorney-General, Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald
• Minister of Militia, Hon. George-Étienne Cartier
• Minister of Customs, Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley
• Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Tilloch Galt
• Minister of Public Works, Hon. William McDougall
• Minister of Inland Revenue, Hon. William Pearce Howland
• Secretary of State for the Provinces, Hon. Adams George Archibald
• President of the Privy Council, Hon. Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair
• Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Hon. Peter Mitchell
• Post Master General, Hon. Alexander Campbell
• Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Jean Charles Chapais
• Secretary of State of Canada, Hon. Hector Louis Langevin
• Receiver General, Hon. Edward Kenney