kids encyclopedia robot

Minister of Militia and Defence facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Minister of Militia and Defence of Canada
Department of Militia and Defence
Canadian Militia
Style The Honourable
Member of
Reports to
Appointer Monarch (represented by the governor general);
on the advice of the prime minister
Term length At Her/His Majesty's pleasure
Precursor Minister of Militia and Defence of the Province of Canada
Formation 1 July 1867 (1867-07-01)
First holder George-Étienne Cartier
Final holder George Perry Graham
Abolished 31 December 1922 (1922-12-31)

The Minister of Militia and Defence was the federal government minister in charge of the volunteer army units in Canada, the Canadian Militia.

From 1855 to 1906, the minister was responsible for Canadian militia units only, as the British Army was still stationed in Canada. From 1906 to 1923, the minister was in charge of the Department of Militia and Defence (Canada). After 1923, the position was merged with the Minister of the Naval Service and the Minister of Aviation into the new position of Minister of National Defence. The Minister of National Defence became responsible for the Canadian Militia, the Royal Canadian Navy and, from 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force.

List of ministers

Pre-Confederation (1855–1867)

The following individuals were named the Minister of Militia and Defence for the Province of Canada.

Key:      Historical conservative parties: Parti bleu, Upper Canada Tories

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party
1 Étienne P. Taché.jpg Étienne-Paschal Taché 1855 1860 Parti bleu
2 John A Macdonald (ca. 1875).jpg John A. Macdonald 1860 1867 Tories

Post-Confederation (1867–1922)

The following individuals were named the Minister of Militia and Defence for Canada.

Key:      Liberal Party of Canada      Historical conservative parties: Liberal-Conservative, Conservative (historical), Unionist, National Liberal and Conservative

No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry Ref.
1 Sir George Etienne Cartier.jpg George-Étienne Cartier 1 July 1867 20 May 1873 Liberal-Conservative 1 (Macdonald)
HectorLangevin23.jpg Hector-Louis Langevin
(Acting)
21 May 1873 30 June 1873
2 Hugh McDonald MP.jpg Hugh McDonald 1 July 1873 4 November 1873
3 WilliamRoss.jpg William Ross 7 November 1873 29 September 1874 Liberal 2 (Mackenzie)
4 William Berrian Vail.jpg William Berrian Vail 30 September 1874 20 January 1878
5 Alfred Gilpin Jones.jpg Alfred Gilpin Jones 21 January 1878 8 October 1878
6 LouisRodrigueMasson23.jpg Louis-Rodrigue Masson 19 October 1878 15 January 1880 Conservative 3 (Macdonald)
7 Sir Alexander Campbell.jpg Alexander Campbell 16 January 1880 7 November 1880
8 Joseph-Philippe-René-Adolphe Caron.jpg Adolphe-Philippe Caron 8 November 1880 6 June 1891
16 June 1891 24 January 1892 4 (Abbott)
9 SirMackenzieBowell.jpg Mackenzie Bowell 25 January 1892 24 November 1892
10 James Colebrooke Patterson.jpg James Colebrooke Patterson 5 December 1892 12 December 1894 5 (Thompson)
21 December 1894 26 March 1895 6 (Bowell)
11 Arthur Rupert Dickey.jpg Arthur Rupert Dickey 26 March 1895 5 April 1896
12 SirMackenzieBowell.jpg Mackenzie Bowell 6 January 1896 14 January 1896
13 Alphonse Desjardins politician 2067.jpg Alphonse Desjardins 15 January 1896 27 April 1896
14 David Tisdale.jpg David Tisdale 1 May 1896 8 July 1896 7 (Tupper)
15 Frederick William Borden.jpg Frederick William Borden 13 July 1896 6 October 1911 Liberal 8 (Laurier)
16 Samuel Hughes, 1905.jpg Sam Hughes 10 October 1911 12 October 1916 Conservative 9 (Borden)
17 Albert Edward Kemp.jpg Albert Edward Kemp 23 November 1916 11 November 1917
18 Sydney Chilton Mewburn.jpg Sydney Chilton Mewburn 12 October 1917 15 January 1920 Unionist 10 (Borden)
James Alexander Calder in 1920.jpg James Alexander Calder
(Acting)
16 January 1920 23 January 1920
19 Hugh Guthrie portrait 1917.jpg Hugh Guthrie 24 January 1920 28 December 1921
National Liberal and Conservative 11 (Meighen)
20 George Perry Graham.jpg George Perry Graham 29 December 1921 31 December 1922 Liberal 12 (King)
Office succeeded by the Minister of National Defence

Ministers with military experience

"Colonel Hughes and Lieutenant Colonel Loomis examining bullet marks on MacAdam Shield", Montreal Daily Star, p.5, 19 September 1914 (19537898471)
Sir Sam Hughes, dressed in the uniform of a colonel of the Canadian Militia, 1914.

Several individuals that served as the Minister of Militia and Defence have served with the Canadian Militia. They include:

  • Private John Alexander Macdonald, Sedentary Militia during 1837 Rebellion
  • Lieutenant Étienne-Paschal Taché, 5th Battalion of Select Embodied Militia, Chasseurs Canadiens Militia
  • Lieutenant Colonel David Tisdale, 39th Norfolk Battalion of Infantry
  • Assistant Surgeon Frederick William Borden, 68th (Kings) Battalion of Infantry, Non-Permanent Active Militia
  • Colonel Sir Sam Hughes, 45th Canadian Volunteer Militia (45th West Durham Battalion of Infantry, later The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment and lastly as 45th Medium Battery, RCA) merged into what is 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), RCA) in 1960; Canadian volunteer to the British Army
  • Major Sydney Chilton Mewburn, Commanding Officer of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Permanent Active Militia

Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence

Fiset was a retired as Surgeon Colonel of Royal Canadian Regiment

See also

  • Minister of Aviation
  • Minister of the Naval Service
  • Minister of National Defence
  • Minister of National Defence for Naval Services
  • Minister of National Defence for Air
  • Minister of Overseas Military Forces
kids search engine
Minister of Militia and Defence Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.