Cartier, Sir George Étienne, Baronet

Cartier, Sir George Étienne, Baronet

(born Sept. 6, 1814, St. Antoine, Lower Canada—died May 20, 1873, London, Eng.) Canadian prime minister jointly with John Macdonald (1858–62). He was elected as a Liberal to the Canadian legislative assembly (1848) and was later appointed provincial secretary (1855) and attorney general for Canada East (1857). In 1858 Cartier represented Canada East in the alliance with Macdonald and promoted the improvement of Anglo-French relations in Canada. He was a proponent of the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1867, despite great opposition, he carried his native province into confederation. He then served as minister of militia and defense in Macdonald's first Confederation cabinet (1867–72).