Home > Edward Blake

Blake became leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in 1868 and became Premier in 1871 but left provincial politics the next year to run in the 1872 Canadian election. The "dual mandate" rule that allowed a politician to sit simultaneously in a provincial and federal house had been abolished and Blake chose to abandon his career in provincial politics. He was re-elected to the Canadian House of Commons but, in 1873, turned down the position of Liberal Party leader due to ill health. He played a major role in exposing the government of Sir John A. MacdonaldSir John Alexander Macdonald Rank 1st ( 1867- 1873 and 1878- 1891) Date of Birth January 11, 1815 Place of Birth Glasgow, Scotland Spouses Isabella Clark Susan Agnes Bernard Profession lawyer Political Party Conservative The Right Honourable Sir John Alex's complicity in the Pacific ScandalThe Pacific scandal involves the allegations of bribes being taken by Canada's Conservative government of Sir John A. As part of British Columbia's agreement to join the Confederation of Canada, the government had agreed to build the Canadian Pacific Rail forcing the government's resignation. Blake was offered the Prime MinisterAlternate meaning: Prime Minister (band #A prime minister is the leading member of the cabinet of the top level government in a parliamentary system of government of a country, alternatively #A prime minister is an official in a presidential system or semship but turned it down due to ill health.

The Liberals won the subsequent 1874 Canadian election, Blake joined the federal cabinetAlternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers . In some countries, particularly those of Prime MinisterAlternate meaning: Prime Minister (band #A prime minister is the leading member of the cabinet of the top level government in a parliamentary system of government of a country, alternatively #A prime minister is an official in a presidential system or sem Alexander MackenzieAlexander Mackenzie ( January 28, 1822 April 17, 1892) was the second Prime Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878. He was born in Logierait, Scotland. He immigrated to Canada in 1842 after completing an education in public schools at serving as Minister of JusticeMinister of Justice of Canada is the minister in the Cabinet of Canada who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada . The current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada is Irwin Cotler. Related Link L and President of the Queen's Privy Council for CanadaIn the Canadian cabinet the President of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada is nominally in charge of the Privy Council Office. The President of the Privy Council also has the largely ceremonial duty of presiding over meetings of the Queen's Privy Counci. The Liberals were defeated in the 1878 Canadian election and Blake succeeded Mackenzie as party leader in 1880 but failed to defeat Sir John A. Macdonald's Conservatives in the 1882 or 1887 federal elections. Blake resigned as Liberal leader in 1887, recruiting Wilfrid Laurier as his successor, and left the Canadian House of Commons in 1891 in order to move to Britain.

In 1892 Blake entered the British House of Commons as an Irish Nationalist MP.