Born on March 12, 1821,
Saint-André-Est, Quebec
Died on October 30, 1893, Montréal, Quebec
Buried at Mount Royal Cemetery,
Montréal, Quebec
© Historical Recording Services |
© NAC, PA26320 |
In 1891 John Abbott declared, "I hate politics." Yet that year
he became prime minister of Canada, after more than thirty years
of political activity.
Abbott was a successful lawyer, a pillar of Montréal's
English business community, and mayor of Montréal. After
long service in the House of Commons, he was appointed to the
Senate of Canada in 1887 and joined Sir John A. Macdonald's cabinet
that year. Valued for his legal and administrative skills, he
soon became one of its leading members.
When Macdonald died in office, Senator Abbott reluctantly accepted
the plea of the divided Conservative Party that he should lead
the government. In his eighteen months in office, he revitalized
the government and the party. When his health failed in 1892,
he retired to private life and died less than a year later.
Sir John Abbott, the first Canadian-born
prime minister, is buried in Montréal.
Address of cemetery: 1297 Chemin de la Forêt, Montréal, QC
Location map
PDF Version (2.79 Mb)
|
