Browse Timeline Patterns Map Persons Parties Data About

Loading…

Crossing the Floor

The definitive bilingual database of political floor-crossing in Canadian history.

Explore

Browse
Timeline
Patterns
Map
Persons
Parties

Learn

Glossary
About
Methodology
Resources
Data
API Docs
Contribute
Compare

Legal

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Accessibility

Richard John Cartwright (1869) | Crossing the Floor

Wanted Promotionfederal- Ontario

Richard John Cartwright

1869Liberal-Conservative→Liberal

5/5 - Maximum - got exactly what they wantedReceived Cabinet PostRe-elected After CrossingNotable Crossing

Why They Crossed

Cartwright believed he deserved to be Finance Minister. When Prime Minister Macdonald gave the job to someone else, Cartwright left the party in anger.

What Happened

He eventually got exactly the job he wanted - Finance Minister - but under a different Prime Minister (Alexander Mackenzie). He later became a Senator.

What Happened Next

CCabinet Appointments

Minister of Finance

1873-11-07 - 1878-10-09 (under Alexander Mackenzie)

Full biography of Richard John Cartwright →

Historical Eras

Confederation Era (1867-1896)

Related Crossings

2005

Belinda Stronach

Conservative → Liberal

Same party involved

1977

Jack Horner

Progressive Conservative → Liberal

Same party involved

2025

Michael Ma

Conservative → Liberal

Same party involved

2024

Brendan Maguire

Liberal → Prog. Conservative

Same category

Political Context

1st Parliament

Governing Party: Liberal-Conservative
Government Type: majority
Total Seats: 181

The Crosser

Richard John Cartwright

Sir Richard John Cartwright was a Canadian politician who served as Minister of Finance under Alexander Mackenzie. Originally a Conservative, he crossed to the Liberals after being passed over for the Finance portfolio by Sir John A. Macdonald.

Wikipedia →

2020

Amanda Simard

Prog. Conservative → Liberal

Same party involved