Galt, Sir Alexander Tilloch << gawlt, sur `al` ehg ZAN duhr TIHL uhk >> (1817-1893), was one of Canada’s Fathers of Confederation. These individuals were planners of the union of British colonies that formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867. He served as the dominion’s first minister of finance.
Galt was born in London on Sept. 6, 1817. He came to Canada in 1835 to work for a land development company in Quebec. He later became an official of the company. Galt served as finance minister of the Province of Canada from 1858 to 1862 and from 1864 to 1866. In 1859, he sharply raised Canada’s tariff on imported manufactured goods. He also supported the development of railroads. Galt was Canada’s first high commissioner to the United Kingdom. He served in this diplomatic position from 1880 to 1883. Galt was knighted in 1869. He died on Sept. 19, 1893.
