1873 in Canada
Encyclopedia
Events from the year 1873 in Canada.
January to June
- February 26 - Gédéon OuimetGédéon OuimetGédéon Ouimet was a French-Canadian politician.Born in what is today part of the city of Laval, Quebec Canada, Ouimet served as the second Premier of the province of Quebec from February 26, 1873 to September 22, 1874. He resigned as party leader of the Quebec Conservatives in 1874. He died in...
becomes Premier of QuebecPremier of QuebecThe Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
, replacing Pierre-Joseph-Olivier ChauveauPierre-Joseph-Olivier ChauveauPierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau , born in Charlesbourg, near Quebec City, was the first Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec following the establishment of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. He led a Conservative Party government. He was also the Minister of Education and Provincial Secretary... - April 1
- Prince Edward Island general election, 1873Prince Edward Island general election, 1873The 1873 Prince Edward Island election was held on 1 April 1873 to elect members of the House of Assembly of the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was won by the Conservative party....
- James Pope becomes Premier of Prince Edward IslandPremier of Prince Edward IslandThe Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
for the second time, replacing Robert Haythorne - The SS Atlantic is wrecked off Peggys Cove
- Prince Edward Island general election, 1873
- April 2 - The Pacific ScandalPacific ScandalThe Pacific Scandal was a political scandal in Canada involving allegations of bribes being accepted by the Conservative government in the attempts of private interests to influence the bidding for a national rail contract...
breaks out - May 13 - Sixty are killed in a coalCoalCoal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mineMiningMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
explosion in Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... - May 23 - North-West Mounted Police are founded to policePoliceThe police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
the Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest TerritoriesThe Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, which then included the region today of AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and SaskatchewanSaskatchewanSaskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... - June 1 - The Cypress Hills MassacreCypress Hills massacreThe Cypress Hills massacre occurred on June 1, 1873, in the Cypress Hills region of Battle Creek, North-West Territories , involving a group of American Bison hunters, American wolf hunters or 'wolfers', American and Canadian whiskey traders, Métis cargo haulers or 'freighters', and a camp of...
occurs.
July to December
- July 1 - Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
joins the Canadian ConfederationCanadian ConfederationCanadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. - August 25 - A cycloneCycloneIn meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
hits Cape Breton IslandCape Breton IslandCape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
killing 500 and causing much damage - September - L. C. Owen becomes Premier of Prince Edward IslandPremier of Prince Edward IslandThe Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
, replacing James Pope - September 23 - The Canadian Labour UnionCanadian Labour UnionThe Canadian Labour Union was the short-lived first attempt at a national central organization to represent labour unions in Canada. It was founded in Toronto, Ontario on September 23, 1873, by 46 local unions. It could not be called a national body as only Ontario based unions participated...
is founded - November - Newfoundland general election, 1873Newfoundland general election, 1873The 12th Newfoundland general election was held in November 1873 to elect members of the 11th General Assembly of Newfoundland in the Dominion of Newfoundland. The Anti-Confederates led by Charles Fox Bennett formed the government; a "new" Conservative party led by Frederick Carter formed the...
- November 5 - Pacific ScandalPacific ScandalThe Pacific Scandal was a political scandal in Canada involving allegations of bribes being accepted by the Conservative government in the attempts of private interests to influence the bidding for a national rail contract...
: the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of CommonsThe House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
passes a vote of no confidence in Sir John A. MacdonaldJohn A. MacdonaldSir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
's government - November 7 - Pacific Scandal: Sir John A. resigns as Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, and Alexander MackenzieAlexander MackenzieAlexander Mackenzie, PC , a building contractor and newspaper editor, was the second Prime Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.-Biography:...
is appointed in his place - November 8 - WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
incorporated as a city
January to June
- January 10 - George OrtonGeorge OrtonGeorge Washington Orton was a Canadian middle-distance runner. In 1900, he became the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal.-Biography:...
, middle-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist, first Canadian to win an Olympic medal (d.19581958 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Vincent Massey then Georges Vanier*Prime Minister – John Diefenbaker*Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C...
) - January 19 - Thomas Dufferin PattulloThomas Dufferin PattulloThomas Dufferin Pattullo was the 22nd Premier of British Columbia, Canada from 1933 to 1941. The Pattullo Bridge is named in his honour as well as Prince Rupert's Pattullo Park....
, politician and 22nd Premier of British ColumbiaPremier of British ColumbiaThe Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
(d.19561956 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Vincent Massey*Prime Minister – Louis Saint Laurent*Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C...
) - February 4 - Étienne DesmarteauEtienne DesmarteauCompetitor for CanadaÉtienne Desmarteau was a Canadian athlete, winner of the weight throwing event at the 1904 Summer Olympics...
, athlete and Olympic gold medalist (d.19051905 in Canada-Events:* January 25 - 1905 Ontario election: Sir James Whitney's Conservatives win a majority, defeating G. W. Ross's Liberals* February 8 - Sir James Whitney becomes premier of Ontario, replacing George Ross* February 27 - Clifford Sifton resigns from cabinet...
) - April 9 - Walter Edward FosterWalter Edward FosterWalter Edward Foster, PC was a politician and businessman in New Brunswick, Canada.Foster was born in St. Martins, New Brunswick. He began work as a clerk with the Bank of New Brunswick at Saint John...
, businessman, politician and 16th Premier of New BrunswickPremier of New BrunswickThe Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
(d.19471947 in Canada-Events:*January 1 - Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect*January 27 - The cabinet order deporting Japanese-Canadians to Japan is repealed after widespread protests*February 13 - Oil is discovered near Leduc, Alberta...
) - April 10 - George Black, politician (d.19651965 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Georges Vanier*Prime Minister: Lester B. Pearson*Premier of Alberta: Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia: W.A.C...
) - May 12 - J. E. H. MacDonaldJ. E. H. MacDonaldJames Edward Hervey MacDonald was a member of the famous Group of Seven Canadian artists. He is the father of Thoreau MacDonald.-Life:...
, artist of the Group of SevenGroup of Seven (artists)The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
(d.19321932 in Canada-Events:* February 17 - The "Mad Trapper" is killed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the Yukon* June 1 - Leonard Tilley becomes premier of New Brunswick, replacing Charles Richards...
) - May 17 - Albert Edward MatthewsAlbert Edward MatthewsAlbert Edward Matthews was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.Matthews was born in Lindsay, Ontario. He worked as an investment broker in Toronto and rose to the position of director. Matthews served as Ontario's 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1937 to 1946...
, 16th Lieutenant Governor of OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(d.19491949 in Canada-Events:*March 31 - Newfoundland becomes Canada's 10th province at a fraction of a second from April 1, April Fools' Day.*April 1 - Joey Smallwood becomes the first premier of Newfoundland as a Canadian province...
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July to December
- August 27 - Maud AllanMaud AllanMaud Allan was a pianist-turned-actor, dancer and choreographer remembered for her "famously impressionistic mood settings".- Early life :...
, actor, dancer and choreographer (d.19561956 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Vincent Massey*Prime Minister – Louis Saint Laurent*Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C...
) - September 20 - Sidney OlcottSidney OlcottSidney Olcott was a Canadian-born film producer, director, actor and screenwriter.-Biography:Born John Sidney Alcott in Toronto, he became one of the first great directors of the motion picture business...
, film producer, director, actor and screenwriter (d.19491949 in Canada-Events:*March 31 - Newfoundland becomes Canada's 10th province at a fraction of a second from April 1, April Fools' Day.*April 1 - Joey Smallwood becomes the first premier of Newfoundland as a Canadian province...
) - October 20 - Nellie McClungNellie McClungNellie McClung, born Nellie Letitia Mooney , was a Canadian feminist, politician, and social activist. She was a part of the social and moral reform movements prevalent in Western Canada in the early 1900s...
, feminist, politician and social activist (d.19511951 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch – King George VI*Governor General – Earl Alexander of Tunis*Prime Minister – Louis Saint Laurent*Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia – Byron Johnson*Premier of Manitoba – Douglas Campbell...
) - November 21 - Aimé BénardAimé BénardAimé Bénard was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as interim leader of the provincial Conservatives in 1915, and was later appointed to the Canadian Senate....
, politician (d.19381938 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch - George VI*Governor General - John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir*Prime Minister - William Lyon Mackenzie King-Events:*June 8 - Saskatchewan general election: William John Patterson's Liberals win a second consecutive majority...
) - December 8 - John Duncan MacLeanJohn Duncan MacLeanJohn Duncan MacLean was a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th Premier of British Columbia, Canada....
, teacher, physician, politician and Premier of British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(d.19481948 in Canada-Events:*June 7 - Ontario election: George Drew's PCs win a second consecutive majority*June 24 - Saskatchewan election: Tommy Douglas's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation wins a second consecutive majority...
) - December 9 - George BlewettGeorge BlewettGeorge John Blewett was a Canadian academic and philosopher.Born in Yarmouth Township in Elgin County, Ontario, the son of William Blewett, a farmer, and Mary Baker, he was raised on a farm near St. Thomas, Ontario. In 1897, he graduated from Victoria University in the University of Toronto...
, academic and philosopher (d.19121912 in Canada-Events:*February 1 - Strathcona merges with Edmonton, Alberta*April 1 - The Parliament of Canada passes Quebec Boundaries Extension Act that transferred to the Province of Quebec the territory bounded by the Eastmain River, the Labrador coast, and Hudson and Ungava Bays, extending the northern...
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Deaths
- May 15 - William James AndersonWilliam James AndersonWilliam James Anderson was a physician, amateur geologist, and historian of Scottish descent.He studied medicine at Edinburgh, where he obtained the degree of MD. Anderson was a physician in the Maritimes in the 1830s. At that time he developed an interest in the history and geology of Nova Scotia...
, physician, amateur geologist and historian (b.18121812 in Canada-Events:* June 18 - The U.S. declares war on Britain, beginning the War of 1812. There are but 4,000 British troops in Canada. Sir George Prevost is Governor...
) - May 20 - George-Étienne CartierGeorge-Étienne CartierSir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
, politician and statesman (b.18141814 in Canada-Events:* March 3 - The Governor refuses to suspend Chief Justices Sewell and Monk, on suggestion of one branch of the Legislature. James Stuart moves, affirming the Assembly's right to inform the Governor of irregularities, without concurrence of the Council; and that the Governor has violated the...
) - May 28 - Thomas Brown AndersonThomas Brown AndersonThomas Brown Anderson was a Canadian merchant, banker, and member of the Special Council of Lower Canada. He was the sixth president of the Bank of Montreal.-References:...
, merchant, banker and politician (b.17961796 in Canada-Events:*About 600 Blacks from Jamaica are deported to Nova Scotia. Known as Maroons, they help rebuild the Halifax Citadel. In 1800, most of them leave for Sierra Leone, Africa.*York officially becomes the capital of Upper Canada....
) - June 1 - Joseph HoweJoseph HoweJoseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
, Premier of Nova Scotia (b.18041804 in Canada-Events:*October 8 - HMS Speedy sinks during snowstorm*David Thompson works in Peace River country.*Lewis and Clark start up the Missouri River.*Merger of the North West Company and XY Fur Companies. The XY Company is absorbed by the North West Company....
) - June 28 - Charles ConnellCharles ConnellCharles Connell was a Canadian politician, now remembered mainly for placing his image on a 5-cent postage stamp...
, politician (b.18101810 in Canada-Events:* January - A Governor declares that, in case of hostilities, a force of regulars, adequate for the defence of Canada, will cooperate with the Militia....
) - November 21 - James William JohnstonJames William JohnstonJames W. Johnston was a Nova Scotia lawyer and politician. He served as Premier of the colony from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1864. He was also Government Leader prior to the granting of responsible government in 1848. He was a Conservative and supporter of Confederation...
, lawyer, politician, and judge (b.17921792 in Canada-Events:* Catherine II grants a monopoly of furs in Alaska to Grigorii Shelikov.* Captain George Vancouver begins his explorations of the British Columbia Coast....
) - December 9 - William SteevesWilliam SteevesWilliam Henry Steeves was a merchant, lumberman, politician and Father of Canadian Confederation.-Life and career:...
, politician (b.18141814 in Canada-Events:* March 3 - The Governor refuses to suspend Chief Justices Sewell and Monk, on suggestion of one branch of the Legislature. James Stuart moves, affirming the Assembly's right to inform the Governor of irregularities, without concurrence of the Council; and that the Governor has violated the...
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