Harper in 2011, photo by PrPhotos
Birth Name: Stephen Joseph Harper
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date of Birth: April 30, 1959
Ethnicity: English, Scottish
Stephen Harper is a Canadian politician. A member of the Conservative Party of Canada, he served as the twenty second Prime Minister of Canada, from February 6, 2006 to November 4, 2015. He has been Chairman of the International Democrat Union, since February 21, 2018.
Prime Minister Harper is the son of Margaret (Johnston) and Joseph Harris Harper, an accountant at Imperial Oil. He is married to Laureen (Teskey) Harper, with whom he has two children.
Prime Minister Harper has English and Scottish ancestry. Some of his ancestral lines are American, and date back to New England in the 1600s. His mother’s ancestry is more heavily Scottish than his father’s, and Prime Minister Harper’s matrilineal line traces back to Scotland (specifically to Catherine Derby, who was born, c. 1834, in Scotland).
Prime Minister Harper and Prime Minister Kim Campbell are the only Protestants to have served as Prime Minister of Canada since Lester B. Pearson in 1968 (all other Canadian Prime Ministers since have been Catholic).
Prime Minister Harper was Leader of the Canadian Alliance party, from March 20, 2002 to December 7, 2003, and Leader of the Conservative Party, from March 20, 2004 to October 19, 2015. He was a Member of the Canadian Parliament from Calgary West (AB), from October 25, 1993 to January 14, 1997, and again, from Calgary Southwest/Calgary Heritage (AB), from June 28, 2002 to August 26, 2016, and Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Parliament, from May 21, 2002 to January 8, 2004, and again from March 20, 2004 to February 5, 2006.
Prime Minister Harper’s paternal grandfather was Harris Chapman Harper (the son of Joseph Crandal/Crandall Harper and Agatha Blanche Chapman). Harris was born in Port Elgin, Westmorland County, New Brunswick. Joseph was the son of Joseph Crandall Harper and Susan Crane. Agatha was the daughter of Harris/Harrison Tingley Chapman and Eliza/Elizabeth Jane Rayworth.
Prime Minister Harper’s paternal grandmother was Lena Faye Coy (the daughter of George William Coy, Jr. and Josephine Rebecca Jones). Lena was born in Upper Gagetown, Queens County, New Brunswick. George was the son of George William Deacon Coy and Mary Jane Estabrooks. Josephine was the daughter of Malcolm Jones and Celia Jane Stiles. One of Prime Minister Harper’s grandmother’s lines traces back to Robert Titus and Hannah Carter.
Prime Minister Harper’s maternal grandfather was Rupert Fullerton Johnston (the son of Robert Johnston and Margaret “Maggie” Henderson). Rupert was born in Bentinck Township, Grey County, Ontario. Robert was the son of Edwin Johnston and Jane Shea. Margaret was the daughter of George Henderson and Ellen Fullerton.
Prime Minister Harper’s maternal grandmother was Catherine Jane Herd (the daughter of Alexander Herd and Margaret Geddes). Catherine was born in Bentinck Township. Alexander was the son of English parents, William Herd and Sarah Ann Sumpton. Margaret was the daughter of Scottish parents, Thomas Geddes and Catherine Derby.
Sources: Genealogy of Prime Minister Stephen Harper (focusing on his father’s side) –
Notes on Prime Minister Harper’s genealogy (focusing on his father’s side) –
Genealogy of Prime Minister Harper’s father, Joseph Harris Harper –
Notes on Prime Minister Harper’s genealogy (focusing on his mother’s side) –
Genealogy of Prime Minister Harper’s matrilineal great-grandmother, Margaret Geddes (focusing on her own father’s side) –
