James William Johnston
Encyclopedia
James W. Johnston was a Nova Scotia
lawyer and politician. He served as Premier
of the colony from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1864. He was also Government Leader prior to the granting of responsible government
in 1848. He was a Conservative and supporter of Confederation
. Johnston was a descendant of Loyalists
who fled the United States
during the revolutionary war. Johnston was a member of the Tory
establishment in Nova Scotia. In 1837 he was appointed to the Legislative Council
and while he sometimes supported reform he was generally a critic and opponent of responsible government
and the introduction of party government.
In 1843 he left the Legislative Council to run for the elected legislative assembly
and became government leader because of the support of moderate members who opposed the "extremism" of Joseph Howe
but were willing to make some concessions.
He lost power when responsible government
was instituted in 1848 but continued as leader of what became the Conservative Party and served as Premier
from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1863 to 1864 before being appointed to the bench.
Johnston was an early supporter of Canadian confederation
seeing it as a means of correcting the failings of responsible government.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
lawyer and politician. He served as Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of the colony from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1864. He was also Government Leader prior to the granting of responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
in 1848. He was a Conservative and supporter of Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. Johnston was a descendant of Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
who fled the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the revolutionary war. Johnston was a member of the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
establishment in Nova Scotia. In 1837 he was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and while he sometimes supported reform he was generally a critic and opponent of responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
and the introduction of party government.
In 1843 he left the Legislative Council to run for the elected legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
and became government leader because of the support of moderate members who opposed the "extremism" of Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
but were willing to make some concessions.
He lost power when responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
was instituted in 1848 but continued as leader of what became the Conservative Party and served as Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1863 to 1864 before being appointed to the bench.
Johnston was an early supporter of Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
seeing it as a means of correcting the failings of responsible government.