Bowell, Sir Mackenzie

Bowell, Sir Mackenzie (bō`əl), 1823–1917, Canadian prime minister, b. England. A leader of the Protestant and English interests in Canada, he served as a Conservative in the Canadian House of Commons (1867–92) and in the Senate (1892–1906). After the Conservative party took office in 1878, he held a number of cabinet posts. For two years (1894–96) he was prime minister, but in 1896 his cabinet was split by the resignation of half of the ministers, and he himself was obliged to resign. He was then chosen opposition leader in the Senate but did not play an active role in politics. He was knighted in 1895.