Canadian statesman and prime minister (18961911), born in St Lin, Quebec, SE Canada. He became a lawyer, a journalist, and a member of the Quebec Legislative Assembly. He entered federal politics in 1874, and became minister of inland revenue (1877), leader of the Liberal Party (18871919), and the first French-Canadian to be prime minister of Canada (1896). A firm supporter of self-government for Canada, in his home policy he was an advocate of compromise and free trade with the USA.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier|
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| 7th Prime Minister of Canada | |
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In office July 11, 1896 – October 7, 1911 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Tupper |
| Succeeded by | Robert Borden |
| Born |
November 20, 1841 Saint-Lin, Quebec |
| Died |
February 17, 1919 Ottawa |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, PC, GCMG, KC, BCL, DCL, LLD, DLitt, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier (November 20, 1841 – February 17, 1919) was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from July 11, 1896, to October 7, 1911.
The second child of Carolus Laurier and Marcelle Martineau, Wilfrid Laurier was born in Saint-Lin (today called 'Saint-Lin-Laurentides') on November 20, 1841.
Often considered one of Canada's great statesmen and the first francophone prime minister, Laurier is well known for his policies of conciliation, nation building, and compromises between French and English Canada.
Laurier was also well regarded for his efforts to establish Canada as an autonomous country within the British Empire.
Laurier is the fourth-longest serving Prime Minister of Canada, behind William Lyon Mackenzie King, John A.
Early career
Before the Liberals, Laurier was a member of the radical Rouge wing of Quebec politics. Distinguished by his debonair charm and intellect, Laurier was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1874 election, serving briefly in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie as Minister of Inland Revenue.
Leadership
Chosen as leader of the Liberal Party in 1887, he gradually built up his party's strength with his personal following in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.
Quebec stronghold
Laurier was able to build the Liberal Party a base in Quebec, which had been a Conservative stronghold for decades due to the province's social conservatism and the influence of the Catholic Church which distrusted the Liberal's anti-clericalism. These factors combined with the collapse of the Conservative Party of Quebec gave Laurier an opportunity to build a stronghold in French Canada and among Catholics across Canada.
Because Laurier believed in a separation of church and state, Roman Catholic bishops in Quebec repeatedly warned their parishioners never to vote for the man. Renowned journalist and author Laurier LaPierre wrote in his 1996 biography of Laurier: "children were made to kneel and beg God that their parents not be damned should they have the temerity to vote for the Liberal candidate.
Prime Minister
Laurier led Canada during a period of rapid growth, industrialization, and immigration.
One of Laurier's first acts as Prime Minister was to implement a solution to the Manitoba Schools Question, which had helped to bring down the Conservative government of Mackenzie Bowell earlier in 1896. Laurier was caught between demands for support for military action from English Canada, and a strong opposition from French Canada, which saw the Boer War as an "English" war.
In 1905, Laurier oversaw Saskatchewan and Alberta's entry into Confederation, the last two provinces to be created out of the Northwest Territories.
Aiming for compromise, Laurier advanced the Naval Service Bill of 1910 which created the Royal Canadian Navy.
Reciprocity and defeat
Another controversy arose regarding Laurier's support of trade reciprocity with the United States.
Despite the Liberal government's mandate not expiring, Laurier called an election to settle the issue of reciprocity.
Opposition and war
Laurier led the opposition during World War I. He was an influential opponent of conscription, which led to the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and the formation of a Union government, which Laurier refused to join for fear of having Quebec fall in the hands of nationalist Henri Bourassa. However, many Liberals, particularly in English Canada, joined Borden as Liberal-Unionists and the "Laurier Liberals" were reduced to a mostly French-Canadian rump as a result of the 1917 election.
However, Laurier's last policies and efforts had not been in vain. As a result of Laurier's opposition of conscription in 1917, Quebec and its French-Canadian voters overwhelmingly to support the Liberal party starting in 1917.
Laurier died on February 17, 1919, and was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site of Canada is in Saint-Lin-Laurentides, a town 60 km north of Montreal. There are rumours Laurier had a mistress (Emilie Lavergne - the wife of his law partner Joseph - who bore a son who looked similar to a younger Laurier) despite his happy marriage to Zoe. Another site is Laurier House, his residence in Ottawa at the corner of what is now Laurier Street and Chapel Street.
Laurier is depicted on the Canadian five-dollar bill.
Laurier is also the personal hero of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who saw in Laurier's abilities at conciliation and at winning majority governments an ideal model to follow.
Supreme Court appointments
Laurier recommended to the Governor General that the following be appointed as Justice to the Supreme Court of Canada:
Sir Louis Henry Davies - (September 25, 1901 - May 1, 1924) David Mills - (February 8, 1902 - May 8, 1903) Sir Henri Elzear Taschereau (Chief Justice) - (November 21, 1902 - May 2, 1906) (appointed a Puisne Justice by Governor General the Marquess of Lorne on the advice of Mackenzie in 1878) John Douglas Armour - (November 21, 1902 - July 11, 1903) Wallace Nesbitt - (May 16, 1903 - October 4, 1905) Albert Clements Killam - (August 8, 1903 - February 6, 1905) John Idington - (February 10, 1905 - March 31, 1927) James Maclennan - (October 5, 1905 - February 13, 1909) Sir Charles Fitzpatrick (Chief Justice) - (June 4, 1906 - November 21, 1918) Sir Lyman Poore Duff - (September 27, 1906 - January 2, 1944) Francis Alexander Anglin - (February 23, 1909 - February 28, 1933) Louis-Philippe Brodeur - (August 11, 1911 - October 10, 1923)
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