Page "James Colebrooke Patterson" Paragraph 5

Patterson was defeated in the federal election of 1891, losing to William McGregor by 2892 votes to 2043.

In spite of this, he was subsequently called into the cabinet of John Abbott, who became prime minister following Macdonald's death following the 1891 election.

He was sworn in as Secretary of State of Canada on January 25, 1892, and was re-elected to parliament on February 22 ( defeating Liberal Malcolm Colin Cameron by 25 votes in a Huron West by-election ).