James Colebrooke Patterson
Encyclopedia
James Colebrooke Patterson (Gorge Washatine), PC
(1839 – February 17, 1929) was a Canadian
politician. He served as a federal cabinet minister from 1892 to 1895 and as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
from 1895 to 1900.
Patterson was born to a Protestant family in Armagh
, Ireland
, and was educated at Dublin. He moved to Canada in 1857 and entered the civil service, though he later resigned. He subsequently trained in law and was called to the bar in 1876.
Patterson settled in the Windsor
area and held a number of local offices (including a ten-year term as reeve of Windsor). In 1875, he was elected to the Ontario legislature as a Conservative
, defeating independent candidate L. Montreuil by 1209 votes to 755 in the riding of Essex North.
In 1878, Patterson resigned his provincial seat to run for the federal House of Commons
. He was elected in the riding of Essex
, defeating Liberal
William McGregor
by 2596 votes to 2318.
Patterson became a backbench supporter of Prime Minister
John A. Macdonald
's government and was re-elected in the federal riding of Essex North in 1882 and 1887. On the former occasion, he defeated J.A. Kilroy by 1714 votes to 1022. On the latter, he defeated Liberal Francis Cleary
by 2301 votes to 2165. He also served as president of the Ontario Conservative Union during a part of his time in parliament.
Patterson was defeated in the federal election of 1891, losing to William McGregor by 2892 votes to 2043. In spite of this, he was subsequently called into the cabinet of John Abbott
, who became prime minister following Macdonald's death following the 1891 election. He was sworn in as Secretary of State of Canada on January 25, 1892, and was re-elected to parliament on February 22 (defeating Liberal Malcolm Colin Cameron
by 25 votes in a Huron West
by-election).
When John S.D. Thompson replaced Abbott as prime minister in late 1892, Patterson was transferred to the Ministry of Militia and Defence. He held this position until March 26, 1895 (aside from a nine-day gap in December 1894), having been retained in the position when Mackenzie Bowell
replaced Thompson in mid-1894. He sought to bolster Canada's defensive capabilities and oversaw the construction of fortifications in Esquimalt
, British Columbia
. After stepping down from his ministry in March 1895, he served as a minister without portfolio.
Patterson resigned from cabinet entirely on September 1, 1895, to be sworn in as the new Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. This was a period of upheaval in Manitoba's political culture, as the Manitoba Schools Question
was in the last stages of its ongoing legal challenges. Patterson was responsible for overseeing the end of most state funding for Catholic and francophone schools, although it is not clear that he played a significant role in the matter. The lieutenant governor's position was largely ceremonial by this time. Patterson does not appear to have re-entered political life when his term ended in 1900.
In addition to his political career, Patterson was also involved in journalism. He was the founder of Canadian Magazine, a work meant to showcase Canada's literary culture.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(1839 – February 17, 1929) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. He served as a federal cabinet minister from 1892 to 1895 and as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
from 1895 to 1900.
Patterson was born to a Protestant family in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and was educated at Dublin. He moved to Canada in 1857 and entered the civil service, though he later resigned. He subsequently trained in law and was called to the bar in 1876.
Patterson settled in the Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
area and held a number of local offices (including a ten-year term as reeve of Windsor). In 1875, he was elected to the Ontario legislature as a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
, defeating independent candidate L. Montreuil by 1209 votes to 755 in the riding of Essex North.
In 1878, Patterson resigned his provincial seat to run for the federal House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The 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...
. He was elected in the riding of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, defeating Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
William McGregor
William McGregor (politician)
William McGregor was a Canadian businessman and political figure. He represented Essex in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1874 to 1878 and from 1891 to 1900....
by 2596 votes to 2318.
Patterson became a backbench supporter of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir 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 and was re-elected in the federal riding of Essex North in 1882 and 1887. On the former occasion, he defeated J.A. Kilroy by 1714 votes to 1022. On the latter, he defeated Liberal Francis Cleary
Francis Cleary
Francis Cleary was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. He was mayor of the town of Windsor, Ontario from 1883 to 1885....
by 2301 votes to 2165. He also served as president of the Ontario Conservative Union during a part of his time in parliament.
Patterson was defeated in the federal election of 1891, losing to William McGregor by 2892 votes to 2043. In spite of this, he was subsequently called into the cabinet of John Abbott
John Abbott
Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, PC, KCMG, QC was the third Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the office for seventeen months, from June 16, 1891 to November 24, 1892. - Life and work :...
, who became prime minister following Macdonald's death following the 1891 election. He was sworn in as Secretary of State of Canada on January 25, 1892, and was re-elected to parliament on February 22 (defeating Liberal Malcolm Colin Cameron
Malcolm Colin Cameron
Malcolm Colin Cameron was a businessman and lawyer in Ontario. He represented Huron South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1875 and from 1878 to 1882 and Huron West from 1882 to 1887, 1891 to 1892 and 1896 to 1898.He was born in Perth in Upper Canada in 1831. He was the son, probably...
by 25 votes in a Huron West
Huron West
Huron West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1917. It was located in the province of Ontario...
by-election).
When John S.D. Thompson replaced Abbott as prime minister in late 1892, Patterson was transferred to the Ministry of Militia and Defence. He held this position until March 26, 1895 (aside from a nine-day gap in December 1894), having been retained in the position when Mackenzie Bowell
Mackenzie Bowell
Sir Mackenzie Bowell, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Canada from December 21, 1894 to April 27, 1896.-Early life:Bowell was born in Rickinghall, Suffolk, England to John Bowell and Elizabeth Marshall...
replaced Thompson in mid-1894. He sought to bolster Canada's defensive capabilities and oversaw the construction of fortifications in Esquimalt
Esquimalt, British Columbia
The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquimalt Harbour and Royal Roads, to the northwest by the...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British 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...
. After stepping down from his ministry in March 1895, he served as a minister without portfolio.
Patterson resigned from cabinet entirely on September 1, 1895, to be sworn in as the new Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. This was a period of upheaval in Manitoba's political culture, as the Manitoba Schools Question
Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a political crisis in the Canadian Province of Manitoba that occurred late in the 19th century, involving publicly funded separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants...
was in the last stages of its ongoing legal challenges. Patterson was responsible for overseeing the end of most state funding for Catholic and francophone schools, although it is not clear that he played a significant role in the matter. The lieutenant governor's position was largely ceremonial by this time. Patterson does not appear to have re-entered political life when his term ended in 1900.
In addition to his political career, Patterson was also involved in journalism. He was the founder of Canadian Magazine, a work meant to showcase Canada's literary culture.