important figures library

Alexander Ross

Ross, Alexander (1783-1856), a Canadian explorer and historian. He played an important role in the early development of the Red River Valley, in what is now Manitoba; he served as a member of the Council of Assiniboia (the administrative district that included the valley), 1835-50, and as district sheriff, 1839-52.

Charles Le Moyne

Le Moyne (or Lemoyne), Charles(1626–1685), a French colonist in Canada. He came to Canada in 1641 and served as a soldier, trader, and Indian interpreter for the Jesuits.

Coureurs de bois

Coureur de Bois, a hunter, trapper, or fur trader in the early days in western North America.

Earl Of Selkirk

Selkirk, Thomas Douglas, Fifth Earl of (1771–1820), a Scottish colonizer who helped settle landless Scottish and Irish farmers in Canada.

Eighth Earl of Elgin

Elgin, James Bruce, Eighth Earl of (1811–1863), a British diplomat. As governor general of Canada, 1847–54, he carried out the plan of his father-in-law, the Earl of Durham, for establishing “responsible government” (representative government).

George Brown

Brown, George (1818–1880), a Canadian journalist and statesman, one of the fathers of Canadian confederation.

James Wolfe

Wolfe, James (1727–1759), a British army officer. General Wolfe led the army that captured the city of Quebec from the French, thus winning Canada for England.

Jean Baptiste Talon

Talon, Jean Baptiste (1625?–1694), the first French intendant (a chief administrator responsible directly to the king) in New France (French Canada).

John G. Diefenbaker

Diefenbaker, John G. (George) (1895–1979), a prime minister of Canada. In 1957 he became the first Progressive Conservative prime minister in more than 20 years.

Kim Campbell

Campbell, Kim (Avril Phaedra Campbell) (1947-), the 19th prime minister of Canada, and the first woman to hold that office.

Louis de Baude, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau

Frontenac, Louis de Buade, Comte de Palluau et de (1620–1698), a French soldier and colonial administrator.

Louis Joseph Papineau

Louis Riel

Riel, Louis (1844-1885), a Canadian rebel leader. He was the leader of the métis (persons of mixed French and Indian ancestry) in the territory that became the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and was the central figure in the Red River Rebellion of 1870 and the Saskatchewan Rebellion of 1885.

Louis Stephen St. Laurent

St. Laurent, Louis Stephen (1882–1973), the 12th prime minister of Canada and the second French-Canadian to hold the office.

MacKenzie King

King, (William Lyon) Mackenzie (1874-1950), a Canadian statesman. He was leader of the Liberal party 1919-48 and prime minister for nearly 22 years (1921-26; 1926-30; 1935-48).

Paul de Chomedey Sieur de Maisonneuve

Maisonneuve, Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de (1612-1676), the founder and first governor of Montreal, Canada.

Ramon John Hnatyshyn

Hnatyshyn, Ramon John (1934-), a Canadian statesman. He was named governor general of Canada in 1990.

Saint Jean de Brebeuf

Brébeuf, Saint Jean de (1593–1649), a French Catholic missionary and martyr in Canada.

Sir Charles Bagot

Bagot, Sir Charles (1781–1843), a British diplomat. During the period of strained relations between the United States and Great Britain that followed the War of 1812, Bagot was minister to the United States (1816–20).

Sir Robert Laird Borden

Borden, Sir Robert Laird (1854–1937), a Canadian statesman. As prime minister during the critical World War I period, he won for Canada an important voice in the affairs of the British Empire.