Minister of Militia and Defence (Canada)

The Minister of Militia and Defence was the federal government minister in charge of the volunteer army units in Canada, the Canadian Militia, before the creation of the Canadian Army.

From 1855 to 1906, the minister was responsible for Canadian militia units only, as the British Army was still stationed in Canada. From 1906 to 1923, the minister was in charge of the Department of Militia and Defence (Canada). After 1923, the position was merged with the Minister of the Naval Service and the Minister of Aviation into the new position of Minister of National Defence. The Minister of National Defence became responsible for the Canadian Militia, the Royal Canadian Navy and, from 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force.

List of Ministers

Pre-Confederation

• Étienne-Paschal Taché ~1855–1860
• John A. Macdonald 1860–1867

Post-Confederation

• George-Étienne Cartier 1867–1873
• Hector Louis Langevin (acting) 1873
• Hugh McDonald 1873
• William Ross 1873–1874
• William Berrian Vail 1874–1878
• Alfred Jones 1878
• Louis Masson 1878–1880
• Sir Alexander Campbell 1880
• Adolphe-Philippe Caron 1880–1892
• Sir Mackenzie Bowell 1892
• James Colebrooke Patterson 1892–1895
• Arthur Rupert Dickey 1895–1896
• Sir Mackenzie Bowell (acting) 1896
• Alphonse Desjardins 1896
• David Tisdale 1896
• Sir Frederick William Borden 1896–1911
• Sir Samuel Hughes 1911–1916
• Albert Edward Kemp 1916–1917
• Sydney Chilton Mewburn 1917–1920
• James Alexander Calder (acting) 1920
• Hugh Guthrie 1920–1921
• George Perry Graham 1921–1922

Ministers with military experience

• Lieutenant Étienne-Paschal Taché, Chasseurs Canadiens Militia
• Lieutenant Colonel David Tisdale, 39th Norfolk Battalion of Infantry
• Assistant Surgeon Frederick William Borden, 68th (Kings) Battalion of Infantry
• Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Sam Hughes, 45th Canadian Volunteer Militia, Canadian Volunteer to the British Army
• Major Sydney Chilton Mewburn, Canadian Army