Daniel Johnson Sr.

Francis Daniel Johnson Sr. PC (April 9, 1915 – September 26, 1968) was a Canadian politician and the 20th premier of Quebec from 1966 until his death in 1968.

Leader of the traditionalist wing of the Union Nationale turned defender of the expanding welfare state, Daniel Johnson was a major figure of two epochs that mark Quebec's modern history: the Great Darkness and the Quiet Revolution.

Elected at the age of 31 as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the provincial riding of Bagot in 1946, Johnson quickly became the figurehead of the up-and-coming generation within his aging party, the Union Nationale. After having served in multiple different roles under Maurice Duplessis's government, including as parliamentary secretary to Duplessis himself and as deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Johnson was appointed as the Minister of Hydraulic Resources in 1958. During his time as minister, he most notably launched the construction of the Manic-5 dam. He became the leader of Union Nationale in 1961 and consequently became the leader of the official opposition to Jean Lesage's ruling Liberal Party. He would occupy this role for an additional five years after failing to win the 1962 election.

The Union Nationale was finally returned to power in the 1966 election, making Johnson the 20th premier of Quebec. However, the party that would now go on to form a majority government bore little resemblance to the one of Maurice Duplessis, having broken with its traditional anti-statism and anti-intellectualism under Johnson's leadership. His administration was also the first in Quebec history to open up the door to Quebec separatism, while still not explicitly endorsing it. During Johnson's premiership, Quebec's relationship with France underwent a rapprochement due to his close collaboration with the French president, Charles de Gaulle, who visited Quebec in 1967 at Premier Johnson's behest, whereupon de Gaulle gave his Vive le Québec libre speech.

In September 1968, while still in the midst of his reforms in health, education, the economy, and the constitution, Johnson died in office following a heart attack. He is the father of Pierre Marc Johnson and Daniel Johnson Jr., who each later briefly served as premier of Quebec, with Pierre Marc heading the Parti Québécois and Daniel Jr. heading the rival Quebec Liberal Party.