Governor-General the Viscount Monck sought out several widely respected leaders to attempt to form the next government, including Alexander Campbell of Kingston and Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair of Guelph.
Finally, Parti bleu stalwart Étienne-Paschal Taché and Liberal-Conservative leader John A. Macdonald agreed to take on the task, in that same month of March 1864.
[2] To reform the political system, however, a coalition was formed between the Liberals under George Brown, the Parti bleu under George-Étienne Cartier, and the Liberal-Conservatives under John A. Macdonald.
This continued at the Quebec Conference where they further discussed the union of British North America and defined the details of the government's shape.
With the exception of Étienne-Paschal Taché, who died in 1865, all members of the Great Coalition went on to play prominent roles in the early years of Confederation.
Oliver Mowat pursued provincial politics, becoming the second Premier of Ontario (1872-1896), and later was elder statesman in the Ministry of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1896-1897).