The Electoral history of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's founding Prime Minister, spanned over half a century from his election to the Prince Edward District Board of Education in 1834 at only age 19, to leading the Conservative Party to victory in the 1891 Dominion (federal) election three months before his death.

A Conservative, Macdonald was Canada's second longest-serving prime minister, with two separate tenures as prime minister (1867–73, 1878–91). He led his party in Canada's first seven general elections, winning six of the seven. Prior to Confederation in 1867, Macdonald he headed the colonial government of the Province of Canada as a joint premier of the Province over three stints (1856–58, 1858–-62, 1864–67) and was the leader of the Liberal-Conservatives in Canada West in the three provincial general elections held in 1857, 1861 and 1863. From June 1864 onward, he led the Great Coalition that facilitated Canadian Confederation.

Macdonald sought local electoral mandates from the voters of Kingston, Ontario for most of his public career. He was elected to Kington's Town Council as an alderman in 1843, and began his parliamentary career shortly after in 1844 when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He served as the members of Kington in the 2nd to the 8th parliaments of the united province, and continue to represent Kingston as its Member of Parliament in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th Canadian parliaments. He died in office in June 1891, three months after his last victory. Summary Macdonald was the second-longest serving Prime Minister, with two separate terms as prime minister (1867–1873, 1878–1891).Parliament of Canada – PARLINFO: "Prime Ministers of Canada". He was in office for a total of 18 years, 359 days. He led the combined Liberal-Conservative Party and Conservative Party in seven general elections, winning six and losing one. He is in a three-way tie with Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King for the number of general elections he contested as leader of a party.

His streak of four consecutive majority governments (1878, 1882, 1887, and 1891) is tied with the identical record of Laurier as the longest streak of general election victories at the federal level. His unbroken term in office from October 17, 1878 to June 6, 1891 (just under thirteen years) is the third-longest unbroken term, coming after Laurier's unbroken term in office of over fifteen years (July 11, 1896 to October 6, 1911) and King's term of just over thirteen years (October 23, 1935 to November 14, 1948.

Macdonald was the first of four prime ministers to serve non-consecutive terms, the others being Arthur Meighen (1920–21, 1926), King, and Pierre Trudeau (1968–79, 1980–84). He was the first of five prime ministers from Ontario, followed by Liberal Alexander Mackenzie who served between his two stints (1873–78), Mackenzie Bowell (1894–96), King and Lester B. Pearson (1963–68). Year Lib Opposition leader 1867180Majority mandate10062George Brown180 1872200Majority mandate10095Edward Blake 51874206Opposition65129Alexander Mackenzie 121878206Majority mandate13463Alexander Mackenzie 9 1882211Majority mandate13473Edward Blake 41887215Majority mandate124 80Edward Blake 111891215Majority mandate118 90Wilfrid Laurier 7 Macdonald stood for election to the House of Commons of Canada twelve times, in 1867, 1872, 1874 (twice), 1878 (three times), 1882 (twice), 1887 (twice), and 1891, although some of those were multiple elections in the same general election, as was permitted at that time. He won eleven of the elections and was defeated once in his home constituency of Kingston, Ontario. Two of his elections were set aside for electoral irregularities, in one case requiring him to stand in a by-election, which he won.

Macdonald was elected as a member of the House of Commons for five different constituencies, and at various times sat in the Commons for three different constituencies in two different provinces (Kingston, Ontario; Victoria, British Columbia; and Carleton, Ontario). He served in the Commons for a total of 23 years, 7 months, and 10 days, continuously from the first Parliament, elected in 1867, to his death in 1891.Parliament of Canada – PARLINFO: MACDONALD, The Right Hon. Sir John Alexander, P.C., G.C.B., Q.C.

YearElectoral District Votes VotesPrincipal opponent Note1867 Kingston, ON877 735 142John Stewart1872 Kingston, ON1339 735 604John Carruthers1874Kingston, ON1640 839 801John Carruthers 1874 Kingston, ON1761 889 872John Carruthers1878Kingston, ON1844 847 991Alexander GunnVictoria, BC1914 896 538Amor De Cosmos Marquette, MB- acclaimed 1882Carleton, ON2431 1185 617Erskine Henry Bronson Lennox, ON2784 1492 1292David Wright Allison1887Kingston, ON2719 1368 1351Alexander GunnCarleton, ON2297 1691 606John K. Stewart1891Kingston, ON3114 1784 1301Alexander Gunn Prior to the creation of Canada in 1867, Macdonald served seven terms (23 years) in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, as well as three terms as joint Premier of the Province. He was also elected alderman of his home town of Kingston, Ontario, the beginning of his electoral career.

Macdonald's combined time in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, and then in the House of Commons of Canada, totalled 46 years of elected service. His combined time as joint Premier of the Province of Canada and as Prime Minister of Canada totalled 28 years and 21 days.

Dominion elections, 1867 to 1891 Macdonald led the combined Liberal-Conservative Party and Conservative Party in seven general elections, winning six (1867, 1872, 1878, 1882, 1887 and 1891) and losing once (1874). National elections were colloquially referred to as Dominion elections, as the term federal did not gain its popular usage until the 1920s. Dominion election, 1867

Canada came into existence on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act, 1867 was proclaimed in force. The first general election to Parliament was held in the summer of 1867 and resulted in a majority government for Macdonald and his coalition of Conservatives and Liberal-Conservatives. The main opposition was from the Liberals, but there was also a substantial group of Anti-Confederation Members of Parliament from the province of Nova Scotia who were opposed to Confederation and sought to dissolve the new union.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 1867 – Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteConservativeSir John A. Macdonald17123.45%Liberal-Conservative2911.08%None26222.67%Anti-ConfederationJoseph Howe187.92%Independent–00.65%Independent Liberal–00.39%Unknown3–033.84%Total 180 100.00%Source: Library of Parliament – ParlInfo: General Election (1867-08-07 – 1867-09-20)

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after the election. 2 Party structure had not yet emerged. George Brown of Ontario was the unofficial leader of the Liberal groupings. 3 Election returns in 1867 did not require candidates to declare party affiliation. Large numbers of candidates did not list a party affiliation.

Dominion election, 1872

The 1872 election was closely fought. Macdonald was returned to office, albeit with a reduced majority. An election financing scandal arose shortly after the election, with allegations that Macdonald and the Conservatives had accepted bribes in return for granting the contract for the trans-Canadian railroad to the first Canadian Pacific Railway company of Hugh Allan. As a result of the scandal, Macdonald and his government was forced to resign in late 1873. The Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, appointed Alexander Mackenzie, the leader of the Liberals, as prime minister. Mackenzie called an election in early 1874.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 1872 – Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteConservativeSir John A. Macdonald16325.8%Liberal-Conservative3612.9%None29534.7%Independent Liberal–21.6%Independent Conservative–20.7%Independent–11.6%Conservative Labour–10.5%Unknown3–022.2%Total 180 100.00%Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after the election. 2 Party structure had not yet emerged. Edward Blake of Ontario was the unofficial leader of the Liberal groupings. 3 Election returns in 1872 did not require candidates to declare party affiliation. Large numbers of candidates did not list a party affiliation.

Dominion election, 1874

Prime Minister Mackenzie formed his government in late 1873, after the fall of the Macdonald government in late 1873. Mackenzie called the general election in early 1874. He won a majority and was confirmed in office. Macdonald retained the support of the Conservatives and became the Leader of the Opposition. The 1874 election was the only general election Macdonald lost.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 1874 – Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteAlexander Mackenzie112939.5%ConservativeSir John A. Macdonald23917.7%Liberal-Conservative2612.4%Independent Liberal–52.0%Independent–43.2%Independent Conservative–30.7%Conservative Labour–00.5%Unknown3–024.0%Total 206 100.00%Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after the election. 2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Election returns in 1874 did not require candidates to declare party affiliation. Large numbers of candidates did not list a party affiliation.

Dominion election, 1878

In the 1878 election, Macdonald and the Conservatives were returned to government, defeating Alexander Mackenzie and the Liberals.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 1878 – Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteConservativeSir John A. Macdonald18526.3%Liberal-Conservative4915.8%Alexander Mackenzie26333.0%Independent–52.7%Independent Conservative–20.2%Independent Liberal–11.0%Nationalist Conservative–10.1%Unknown3–020.9%Total 206 100.0%Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after the election. 2 Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Election returns in 1878 did not require candidates to declare party affiliation. Large numbers of candidates did not list a party affiliation.

Dominion election, 1882

Macdonald and the Conservatives were maintained in power by the 1882 election. Macdonald won his fourth majority government, defeating the Liberals, now led by Edward Blake.

+ Canadian Federal Election, 1882 – Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular VotePartyLeadersSeats WonPopular VoteConservativeSir John A. Macdonald19427.8%Liberal-Conservative3912.6%Edward Blake27331.1%Independent Liberal–21.1%Independent–11.6%Nationalist Conservative–10.2%Independent Conservative–10.2%Unknown3–025.4%Total 211 100.0%Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after the election. 2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election. 3 Election returns in 1882 did not require candidates to declare party affiliation. Large numbers of candidates did not list a party affiliation.

Dominion election, 1887

Macdonald and the Conservatives were maintained in power by the 1887 election. Macdonald won his fifth majority government, defeating the Liberals, again led by Edward Blake. One notable feature of the election was the drop in Quebec seats held by the Conservatives, following the execution of Louis Riel two years earlier.