Mitchell, Peter National Historic Person
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Portrait
(© Expired; Credit: Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-026414)
Address :
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1938-05-19
Life Date:
1824 to 1899
Other Name(s):
-
Mitchell, Peter
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Father of Confederation, Prime Minister of New Brunswick (1866-67)
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Newcastle, New Brunswick
Born in Newcastle, Mitchell represented Northumberland in the Assembly (1856-1860), and sat in the Legislative Council (1860-7). A Father of Confederation, he attended the Charlottetown, Quebec and London Conferences and, as Premier (1866-7) negotiated the entry of New Brunswick into Confederation. Called to the Senate in 1867 he served as Minister of Marine and Fisheries (1867-73) before resigning to contest the riding of Northumberland which he represented in the Commons (1872-8 and 1882-91). He became editor of the Montreal Herald in 1873 and its proprietor in 1885. He died in Montreal.