The Quebec Conference Meet the Fathers of Confederation		The Fathers of Confederation were leaders of their generation. They were a diverse group: government and opposition, English and French, lawyers and journalists, shipbuilders and soldiers, poets and businessmen. Prince Edward Island John Hamilton Gray Premier, Prince Edward Island Age: 52 Political Party: conservative Profession: Soldier, Politician Chairing the conference was Island premier, Colonel John Gray. Having served in India and South Africa, Gray was the most well traveled of the delegates. Despite initial lack of interest, he became convinced that federal union might be worthwhile. Edward Palmer Attorney General, Prince Edward Island Age: 55 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Politician Prince Edward Island Public Archives and Records Office 2702-113 Andrew A. Macdonald Member of the Legislative Council, Prince Edward Island Age: 35 Political Party: Reform Profession: Shipbuilder, Merchant, Politician William H. Pope Colonial Secretary, Prince Edward Island Age: 39 Political party: Conservataive Profession: Journalist, Lawyer. Land Agent, Politician National Archives of Canada / C-010765 George H. Coles Leader of the Opposition, Prince Edward Island Age: 54 Political Party: Reform Profession: Brewer, Politician Prince Edward Island Public Archives and Records Office 2755-120 New Brunswick S. Leonard Tilley Premier, New Brunswick Age: 46 Political Party: Reform Profession: Drug Store Owner, Politician Leonard Tilley of New Brunswick was a single father of seven children who somehow found time to teach Sunday school as well as lead the legislature. Tilley was interested in the commercial benefits of union. William H. Steeves Minister without Portfolio, New Brunswick Age: 50 Political Party: Reform Profession: Lumberman, Shipbuilder, Politician Provincial Archives of New Brunswick P106-28 John M. Johnson Attorney General, New Brunswick Age: 46 Political Party: Reform Profession: Lawyer, Politician Provincial Archives of New Brunswick P106-12 John Hamilton Gray Member of Legislative Assembly, New Brunswick Age: 50 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Soldier, Politician Provincial Archives of New Brunswick P106-28 Edward B. Chandler Member of Legislative Assembly, New Brunswick Age: 64 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Judge, Politician Musee McCord Museum I-13463 Nova Scotia Charles Tupper Premier, Nova Scotia Age: 43 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Physician, Politician Charles Tupper and the Nova Scotia delegates were open to either a Maritime or a federal union. Tupper was the first to propose that opposition members attend the conference – making it a parliamentary-style discussion not a partisan affair. William A. Henry Attorney General, Nova Scotia Age: 43 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Judge, Politician National Archives of Canada C-51821 Robert B. Dickey Member of Legislative Assembly, Nova Scotia Age: 53 Political party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Politician Musee McCord Museum I-13457 Adams G. Archibald Leader of the Opposition, Nova Scotia Age: 50 Political Party: Reform Profession: Lawyer, Politician, Judge Jonathan McCully Member of the Legislative Council, Nova Scotia Age: 55 Political Party: Reform Profession: Lawyer, Journalist, Politician Provincial Archives of New Brunswick P106-22 Canada East George Etienne Cartier Co-premier, Canada East Age: 50 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Businessman, Politician As a youthful rebel, George-Etienne Cartier had fled to the United States. By 1864, he was the popular leader of French Canada. Cartier was a key advocate of confederation as he was convinced it would benefit French Canadians. Hector-Louis Langevin Solicitor General, Canada East Age: 38 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Journalist, Politician National Library of Canada, NL-22266 Alexander Galt Minister of Finance, Canada East Age: 47 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Railway Executive, Politician Alexander Galt, who had advocated federal union for years, worked out the financial details of Confederation. Thomas D’Arcy McGee Minister of agriculture, Canada East Age: 39 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Journalist, Poet, Politician D’Arcy McGee, the only Canadian delegate who had previously visited the Maritimes, was a famed orator who spoke eloquently in favour of a new nationality. Canada West John A. Macdonald Co-premier, Canada West Age: 49 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Politician John A. Macdonald was the dominant mind behind confederation. At the conference, he spoke persuasively of the benefits of union, moderating his own ideas when necessary to resolve the concerns of others. Alexander Campbell Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canada West Age: 42 Political Party: Conservative Profession: Lawyer, Politician Musee McCord Museum, I-7302 William McDougall Provincial Secretary, Canada West Age: 42 Political Party: Reform Profession: Journalist, Lawyer, Politician National Archives of Canada C-19537 George Brown President Executive Council, Canada West Age: 46 Political Party: Reform Profession: Journalist, Politician George Brown, founder of the Globe newspaper (now the Globe and Mail) and leader of the Reform party, played a key role in the conference. He set aside his personal animosity for John A. Macdonald to advance the cause of federal union.