1896 - The Year of 3 Prime Ministers in Canada - March 3, 2017

1896 was a very peculiar year in Canada in that within a few months, our nation saw three different Prime Ministers leading it.

Because of not being effective in dealing with the Manitoba schools crisis (a provincial matter where Manitoba had decided to stop funding the Catholic school system), as well as being a senator (which didn't allow him the ability to debate the issue in the House of Commons), Sir Mackenzie Bowell stepped down as Prime Minister on April 26, 1896 and was succeeded as Prime Minister by fellow Conservative Charles Tupper on May 1, 1896.

During the federal election during July of this year, the leader of the Liberals, Sir Wilfrid Laurier defeated the Conservatives and became the third Prime Minister of Canada within a four month long period.

Sir Sir Mackenzie Bowell, Canada's 5th Prime Minister (December 21, 1894 – April 27, 1896)
Source of image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/SirMackenzieBowell.jpg

Sir Charles Tupper, Canada's 6th Prime Minister was also a Father of Confederation. He was the Premier of Nova Scotia in 1867 when Nova Scotia joined Canada on July 1st. (He was Prime Minister between May 1, 1896 – July 8, 1896).
Source of image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/TupperUniform.jpg

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada's 7th Prime Minister (11 July 1896 – 6 October 1911)
Source of image: http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/WLU/002291652f.jpg

Canada's current $5 bill portrays Canada's 7th Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier.