14th Prime Minister of Canada, from 1963 to 1968 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson PC OM CC OBE (April 23, 1897 – December 27, 1972) was the 14th Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the first peacekeeping force.
Lester B. Pearson | |
---|---|
14th Prime Minister of Canada | |
In office 22 April 1963 – 20 April 1968 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General | Georges Vanier Roland Michener |
Preceded by | John Diefenbaker |
Succeeded by | Pierre Trudeau |
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada | |
In office 16 January 1958 – 6 April 1968 | |
Preceded by | Louis St. Laurent |
Succeeded by | Pierre Trudeau |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 16 January 1958 – 22 April 1963 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | John Diefenbaker |
Preceded by | Louis St. Laurent |
Succeeded by | John Diefenbaker |
8th Secretary of State for External Affairs | |
In office 10 September 1948 – 20 June 1957 | |
Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King Louis St. Laurent |
Preceded by | Louis St. Laurent |
Succeeded by | John Diefenbaker |
2nd Canadian Ambassador to the United States | |
In office 1944–1946 | |
Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
Preceded by | Leighton McCarthy |
Succeeded by | H. H. Wrong |
8th President of the United Nations General Assembly | |
In office 1952 | |
Preceded by | Luis Padilla Nervo |
Succeeded by | Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit |
Member of Parliament for Algoma East | |
In office 25 October 1948 – 23 April 1968 | |
Preceded by | Thomas Farquhar |
Succeeded by | None (district abolished) |
Personal details | |
Born | Lester Bowles Pearson 23 April 1897 Newtonbrook, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Died | 27 December 1972 75) (aged Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Resting place | MacLaren Cemetery, Wakefield, Quebec |
Nationality | Canadian |
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse(s) |
Maryon Moody (m. 1925) |
Children | 2, including Geoffrey Pearson |
Education |
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Profession | Diplomat, historian, soldier |
Awards | Nobel Prize for Peace (1957) |
Signature | ![]() |
Military service | |
Nickname(s) | "Mike" |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service |
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Years of service | 1915–18 |
Rank |
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Battles/wars | World War I |
As Prime Minister, Pearson's government created universal health care and the Canada Pension Plan. They also created the Canada Student Loan Program, the Order of Canada, and changed the flag of Canada to the one with maple leaves. Pearson kept Canada from fighting in the Vietnam War and de facto stopped capital punishment from being used in Canada. Many people think he is one of the most important Canadians of the 20th century.[1][2]
Pearson was born in Newtonbrook, Ontario, the son of Edwin Arthur Pearson, a Methodist minister and Anne Sarah Bowles. He went to the University of Toronto and Oxford University. Pearson was ambassador to the United States and the United Nations. He played for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club while on a scholarship at Oxford University.
Pearson entered politics in 1948, as Minister of External Affairs in the Liberal government of Louis St. Laurent. He became leader of the Liberal Party in 1958. He lost two elections as leader, until winning a third to become Prime Minister in 1963. His government brought in social programs and new standards for workers. Pearson signed the Canada-United States Automotive Agreement, also called the Auto Pact. He retired in 1968. The next Prime Minister was Pierre Trudeau.
Pearson died from liver cancer in Ottawa, Canada, aged 75.
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