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Revision as of 07:05, 17 June 2006 by Anonymous editor (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)James W. Johnston (Jamaica 29 August 1792 – 21 November 1873 Cheltenham) 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 descendent 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.
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| Preceded byWilliam Young | Premier of Nova Scotia 1857-1860 |
Succeeded byWilliam Young |
| Preceded byJoseph Howe | Premier of Nova Scotia 1863-1864 |
Succeeded byCharles Tupper |
| Premiers of Nova Scotia | |
|---|---|
| Before Confederation (1848–1867) | |
| Post-Confederation (1867–present) | |
