Canada becomes a Dominion, its provinces united in a federal parliamentary structure under the British Crown.

On this day, the Dominion of Canada came into being under the terms of the British North America Act of 1867.  From then on the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick would be organized as a united and semi-independent federal state under the British Crown.  Lord Monck announced his appointment as the first Governor-General of the new Dominion and one of his first acts was confer a knighthood on John A. MacDonald, one of the leaders of the push towards confederation, who would lead Canada's first Parliament. The date had been celebrated since as Canada Day, the official national day.  (By John Osborne)