Sir John Sparrow David Thompson - biography.

Sir John Sparrow David Thompson - biography. Fourth prime minister of Canada Birth November 10, 1845 Death December 12, 1894 Place of Birth Halifax, Nova Scotia Constituencies Antigonish, Nova Scotia (1885-1894) Political Party Conservative Term 1892-1894 Significant Defended the death sentence of Métis rebellion leader Louis Riel, who was executed in 1885 Acts Assisted in negotiating a fair treaty on U.S.-Canadian fishing rights off the Atlantic coast in 1888 Drafted a criminal code for Canada in 1892 that was adopted the following year Served in 1893 on the commission arbitrating the Bering Sea Controversy, a dispute between the United States and Canada over the seal trade off the coast of Alaska Career 1877 Won election to the Nova Scotia provincial legislature 1878-1882 Served as attorney general of the province of Nova Scotia 1882 Became premier of Nova Scotia 1882 Was appointed justice of the Nova Scotia supreme court after the Conservatives were defeated 1885-1892 Served as minister of justice in the national cabinet of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald 1892-1894 Led the Conservative Party December 1892 Succeeded Sir John Abbott as prime minister Did You Know Thompson declined the post of prime minister in 1891 because he thought his conversion to Roman Catholicism would cause too much conflict within the Conservative Party. Thompson died of a heart attack at Windsor Castle, England, while still prime minister, shortly after being made a member of Queen Victoria's privy council. When Thompson and his wife were apart they wrote daily to each other in shorthand. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.