# Mowat ministry

The Mowat ministry was the combined cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) that governed Ontario from October 25, 1872, to July 21, 1896. It was led by the 3rd Premier of Ontario, Oliver Mowat. The ministry was made up of members of the Liberal Party of Ontario, which commanded a majority of the seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
The ministry replaced the Blake ministry following the resignation of Premier Edward Blake, who departed in 1872 to pursue a career in federal politics. The Mowat Hardy ministry governed through the second half of the 2nd Parliament of Ontario, as well as every parliament from the 3rd to the 7th, then the first half of the 8th Parliament of Ontario. It was the longest-lived Ontario ministry, nearly ten years longer than the second longest ministry Davis ministry.
Mowat resigned in 1896 to serve in Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's federal cabinet. He was succeeded as Premier of Ontario by Arthur Sturgis Hardy.

## List of ministers

Mowat ministry by portfolio :
| Portfolio | Minister | Tenure | Tenure |
| Portfolio | Minister | Start | End |
| Premier of Ontario | Oliver Mowat | October 25, 1872 | July 21, 1896 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Archibald McKellar | October 25, 1872 | July 23, 1875 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Samuel Wood | July 23, 1875 | June 2, 1883 |
| Minister of Agriculture | James Young | June 2, 1883 | November 2, 1883 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Alexander Ross | November 2, 1883 | May 1, 1888 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Charles Drury | May 1, 1888 | September 16, 1890 |
| Minister of Agriculture | John Dryden | September 16, 1890 | July 21, 1896 |
| Attorney General | Oliver Mowat | October 25, 1872 | July 21, 1896 |
| Minister of Education | Adam Crooks | February 19, 1876 | November 23, 1883 |
| Minister of Education | George Ross | November 23, 1883 | July 21, 1896 |
| Commissioner of Crown Lands | Richard Scott | October 25, 1872 | December 4, 1873 |
| Commissioner of Crown Lands | Timothy Pardee | December 4, 1873 | January 18, 1889 |
| Commissioner of Crown Lands | Arthur Sturgis Hardy | January 18, 1889 | July 21, 1896 |
| Commissioner of Public Works | Archibald McKellar | October 25, 1872 | March 24, 1874 |
| Commissioner of Public Works | Christopher Fraser | March 24, 1874 | May 30, 1894 |
| Commissioner of Public Works | William Harty | May 30, 1894 | October 21, 1896 |
| Ministers Without Portfolios | | | |
| Provincial Secretary and Registrar | Timothy Pardee | October 25, 1872 | December 4, 1873 |
| Provincial Secretary and Registrar | Christopher Fraser | December 4, 1873? | July 23, 1875? |
| Provincial Secretary and Registrar | Samuel Wood | July 23, 1875 | March 19, 1877 |
| Provincial Secretary and Registrar | Arthur Sturgis Hardy | March 19, 1877 | January 18, 1889 |
| Provincial Secretary and Registrar | John Gibson | January 18, 1889 | July 21, 1896 |
| Treasurer | Adam Crooks | October 25, 1872 | March 19, 1877 |
| Treasurer | Samuel Wood | March 19, 1877 | June 2, 1883 |
| Treasurer | James Young | June 2, 1883 | November 1, 1883 |
| Treasurer | Alexander Ross | November 1, 1883 | September 16, 1890 |
| Treasurer | Richard Harcourt | October 25, 1890 | July 21, 1896 |