All of Canada, Nova Scotia and Halifax remained in mourning on this date in 1895 as Sir John Thompson, who had died several weeks earlier in the United Kingdom (while lunching at Windsor Castle), was laid to rest.Thousands lined the streets to show their respect for Thompson who had served as Canada’s Prime Minister for just two years (1892-94).The fourth Canadian to hold the post since Confederation, Sir John was only 49 years-old when he passed into history. The first Roman Catholic to serve as Prime Minister of Canada, Thompson is buried at Halifax’s Holy Cross Cemetery.[caption id="attachment_527333" align="alignleft" width="457"]
Sir John Thompson[/caption]Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Sir John Thompson[/caption]Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.