# 3rd Canadian Ministry

The Third Canadian Ministry was the second cabinet chaired by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald. It governed Canada from 17 October 1878 to 6 June 1891, including the 4th, 5th, and 6th Canadian Parliaments, as well as the first three months of the 7th. The government was formed by the Liberal-Conservative Party in coalition with the old Conservative Party of Canada. Macdonald was also Prime Minister in the First Canadian Ministry.

## Ministries

* Prime Minister
** 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: John A. Macdonald
* Minister of Agriculture
** 17 October 1878 – 25 September 1885: John Henry Pope
** 25 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Carling
* Minister of Customs
** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (James Johnson was acting)
** 19 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: Mackenzie Bowell
* Minister of Finance
** 17 October 1878 – 11 November 1885: Samuel Leonard Tilley
** 11 November 1885 – 10 December 1885: Vacant (John Mortimer Courtney was acting)
** 10 December 1885 – 27 January 1887: Archibald McLelan
** 27 January 1887 – 29 May 1888: Charles Tupper
** 29 May 1888 – 6 June 1891: George Eulas Foster
* Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
** 17 October 1878 – 17 October 1883: The Minister of the Interior (Ex Officio)
*** 17 October 1878 – 17 October 1883: John A. Macdonald
** 17 October 1883 – 3 October 1887: The President of the Privy Council (Ex officio)
*** 17 October 1883 – 3 October 1887: John A. Macdonald
** 3 October 1887 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of the Interior (Ex Officio)
*** 3 October 1887 – 22 April 1888: Thomas White
*** 22 April 1888 – 8 May 1888: Vacant (Alexander Mackinnon Burgess was acting)
*** 8 May 1888 – 25 September 1888: John A. Macdonald (Acting)
*** 25 September 1888 – 6 June 1891: Edgar Dewdney
* Minister of Inland Revenue
** 17 October 1878 – 26 October 1878: Vacant (Alfred Brunel was acting)
** 26 October 1878 – 8 November 1880: Louis François Georges Baby
** 8 November 1880 – 23 May 1882: James Cox Aikins
** 23 May 1882 – 6 June 1891: John Costigan
* Minister of the Interior
** 17 October 1878 – 17 October 1883: John A. Macdonald
** 17 October 1883 – 4 August 1885: David Lewis Macpherson
** 5 August 1885 – 21 April 1888: Thomas White
** 22 April 1888 – 7 May 1888: Vacant (Alexander Mackinnon Burgess was acting)
** 8 May 1888 – 24 September 1888: John A. Macdonald (acting)
** 25 September 1888 – 6 June 1891: Edgar Dewdney
* Minister of Justice
** 17 October 1878 – 20 May 1881: James McDonald
** 20 May 1881 – 26 September 1885: Alexander Campbell
** 26 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Sparrow David Thompson
* Attorney General of Canada
** 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of Justice (Ex officio)
*** 17 October 1878 – 20 May 1881: James McDonald
*** 20 May 1881 – 26 September 1885: Alexander Campbell
*** 26 September 1885 – 6 June 1891: John Sparrow David Thompson
* Leader of the Government in the Senate
** 17 October 1878 – 7 February 1887: Alexander Campbell
** 7 February 1887 – 12 May 1887: Frank Smith (acting)
** 12 May 1887 – 6 June 1891: John Abbott
* Minister of Marine and Fisheries
** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (William Smith was acting)
** 19 October 1878 – 10 July 1882: James Colledge Pope
** 10 July 1882 – 10 December 1885: Archibald McLelan
** 10 December 1885 – 1 June 1888: George Eulas Foster
** 1 June 1888 – 6 June 1891: Charles Hibbert Tupper
* Minister of Militia and Defence
** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (Charles-Eugène Panet was acting)
** 19 October 1878 – 16 January 1880: Louis François Rodrigue Masson
** 16 January 1880 – 8 November 1880: Alexander Campbell
** 8 November 1880 – 6 June 1891: Joseph Philippe René Adolphe Caron
* Postmaster General
** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (William Henry Griffin was acting)
** 19 October 1878 – 20 May 1879: Hector Louis Langevin
** 20 May 1879 – 16 January 1880: Alexander Campbell
** 16 January 1880 – 8 November 1880: John O'Connor
** 8 November 1880 – 20 May 1881: Alexander Campbell
** 20 May 1881 – 23 May 1882: John O'Connor
** 23 May 1882 – 25 September 1885: John Carling
** 25 September 1885 – 27 January 1887: Alexander Campbell
** 27 January 1887 – 11 July 1888: Archibald McLelan
** 11 July 1888 – 6 August 1888: John Carling (Acting)
** 6 August 1888 – 6 June 1891: John Graham Haggart
* President of the Privy Council
** 17 October 1878 – 16 January 1880: John O'Connor
** 16 January 1880 – 1 August 1880: Louis François Rodrigue Masson
** 1 August 1880 – 8 November 1880: John A. Macdonald (acting)
** 8 November 1880 – 20 May 1881: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
** 20 May 1881 – 10 July 1882: Archibald McLelan
** 10 July 1882 – 17 October 1883: John A. Macdonald (acting)
** 17 October 1883 – 28 November 1889: John A. Macdonald
** 28 November 1889 – 1 May 1891: Charles Carroll Colby
** 1 May 1891 – 6 June 1891: John A. Macdonald (acting)
* Minister of Public Works
** 17 October 1878 – 20 May 1879: Charles Tupper
** 20 May 1879 – 6 June 1891: Hector Louis Langevin
* Minister of Railways and Canals
** 20 May 1879 – 29 May 1884: Charles Tupper
** 29 May 1884 – 25 September 1885: John Henry Pope (Acting)
** 25 September 1885 – 1 April 1889: John Henry Pope
** 1 April 1889 – 10 April 1889: Vacant (Toussaint Trudeau was acting)
** 10 April 1889 – 28 November 1889: John A. Macdonald (acting)
** 28 November 1889 – 6 June 1891: John A. Macdonald
* Receiver General of Canada
** 17 October 1878 – 8 November 1878: Vacant (John Mortimer Courtney was acting)
** 8 November 1878 – 20 May 1879: Alexander Campbell
** 20 May 1879 – 6 June 1891: The Minister of Finance (Ex officio)
*** 20 May 1879 – 11 November 1885: Samuel Leonard Tilley
*** 11 November 1885 – 10 December 1885: Vacant (John Mortimer Courtney (acting)
*** 10 December 1885 – 27 January 1887: Archibald McLelan
*** 27 January 1887 – 29 May 1888: Charles Tupper
*** 29 May 1888 – 6 June 1891: George Eulas Foster
* Secretary of State of Canada
** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (Edouard-Joseph Langevin (acting)
** 19 October 1878 – 8 November 1880: James Cox Aikins
** 8 November 1880 – 20 May 1881: John O'Connor
** 20 May 1881 – 29 July 1882: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
** 29 July 1882 – 6 June 1891: Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau
* Registrar General of Canada
** 17 October 1878 – 6 June 1891: The Secretary of State of Canada (Ex officio)
*** 17 October 1878 – 19 October 1878: Vacant (Edouard-Joseph Langevin was acting)
*** 19 October 1878 – 8 November 1880: James Cox Aikins
*** 8 November 1880 – 20 May 1881: John O'Connor
*** 20 May 1881 – 29 July 1882: Joseph-Alfred Mousseau
*** 29 July 1882 – 6 June 1891: Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau
* Minister without Portfolio
** 8 November 1878 – 11 February 1880: Robert Duncan Wilmot
** 11 February 1880 – 17 October 1883: David Lewis Macpherson
** 2 August 1882 – 6 June 1891: Frank Smith
** 13 May 1887 – 6 June 1891: John Abbott