It initially consisted of the territorial district of Manitoulin and the part of the territorial district of Algoma lying east of a line drawn from south to north along the limit between the townships of Lefroy and Plummer Additional and due north to the northern limit of Algoma.

In 1904, the territorial district of Manitoulin was transferred out of the riding.

The electoral district was abolished in 1966 when it was redistributed between Algoma, Nickel Belt and Timmins—Chapleau ridings.

Its last, longest-serving, and highest-profile MP was Lester Pearson of the Liberal Party, who was Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968.

This riding elected the following members of the House of Commons of Canada: