The Right Honourable  Louis Stephen St-Laurent  PC CC QC LLD DCL LLL BA
12th Prime Minister of Canada
In office November 15, 1948 – June 21, 1957
Monarch	George VI, Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Mackenzie King
Succeeded by	John Diefenbaker
Born	February 1, 1882 (1882-02-01) Compton, Quebec
Died	July 25 1973 (aged 91) Quebec City, Quebec
Political party	Liberal Party of Canada
Spouse	Jeanne Renault
Children	2 sons; 3 daughters
Alma mater	Université Laval
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Roman Catholic

Louis Stephen St-Laurent PC CC QC (Saint-Laurent or St-Laurent in French, baptized Louis-Étienne St-Laurent) , (February 1, 1882 – July 25, 1973) was the twelfth Prime Minister of Canada from November 15, 1948, to June 21, 1957. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin Queen's Counsel ( postnominal QC) &ndash known as King's Counsel ( KC) during the reign of a male sovereign  &ndash are Doctor of Laws ( Latin: Legum Doctor, LLD) is a Doctorate -level Academic degree in Law. Some universities such as the University of Oxford, award Doctor of Civil Law (DCL degrees instead of Doctor of Laws (LL Bachelor of Civil Law or BCL is the name of various degrees in Law conferred by English-language universities The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II William Lyon Mackenzie King PC OM CMG ( December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Compton is a Municipality in the regional county municipality of Coaticook and the Administrative region of Estrie. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Quebec City ( French: Ville de Québec, or simply Québec) (kwɨˈbɛk or /keˈbɛk/ is the Capital of the Canadian province Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political Jeanne Renault Saint-Laurent (born 1887 in Beauceville Quebec; died November 14, 1966) was the wife of Louis St Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin Queen's Counsel ( postnominal QC) &ndash known as King's Counsel ( KC) during the reign of a male sovereign  &ndash are French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar)

Early life and career

Louis St-Laurent (pronounced [lwisɛ̃loʁɑ̃]) was born in Compton, Quebec, a village in the Eastern Townships to Jean-Baptiste-Moïse Saint-Laurent, a French-Canadian, and Mary Anne Broderick, an Irish-Canadian. Compton is a Municipality in the regional county municipality of Coaticook and the Administrative region of Estrie. The Eastern Townships ( French: Cantons de l'Est) is a historical region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate He grew up fluently bilingual. His English had a noticeable Irish brogue, while his gestures (such as a hunch of the shoulders) were French. A brogue is a strong Dialectal accent, notably in Irish dialects of the English language. He received degrees from St. Charles Seminary (B. A. 1902) and Université Laval (LL. L. 1905). He was offered, but declined, a Rhodes Scholarship upon this graduation from Laval in 1905. Rhodes Scholarship Rhodes scholar redirects here Rhodes Scholar redirects here Rhodes scholars In 1908 he married Jeanne Renault (1886 - 1966) with whom he had two sons and three daughters. Jeanne Renault Saint-Laurent (born 1887 in Beauceville Quebec; died November 14, 1966) was the wife of Louis St

St-Laurent worked as a lawyer from 1905 to 1941, also becoming a professor of law at Université Laval in 1914. St-Laurent practised corporate and constitutional law in Québec and became one of the country's most respected counsels. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk He served as President of the Canadian Bar Association from 1930 to 1932. The Canadian Bar Association ("CBA" (the Association du Barreau canadien (AABC in French) is the Canadian voluntary Bar association

St-Laurent's father, a Compton shopkeeper, was a staunch supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada and was particularly enamoured with Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political When Laurier led the Liberals to victory in the 1896 election, 14-year-old Louis relayed the election returns from the telephone in his father's store. The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament However, while an ardent Liberal, Louis remained aloof from active politics for much of his life, focusing instead on his legal career and family. He became one of Quebec's leading lawyers and was so highly regarded that he was offered a position in the Cabinet of the Conservative Prime Minister Arthur Meighen in 1926 and was offered a seat as a justice in the Supreme Court of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Arthur Meighen (ˈmiən PC, QC ( June 16, 1874 – August 5, 1960) was the ninth Prime Minister of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian

It was not until he was nearly 60 that St-Laurent finally agreed to enter politics when Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King appealed to his sense of duty in late 1941. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus William Lyon Mackenzie King PC OM CMG ( December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian

Member of Mackenzie King Cabinet

Minister of Justice

Following the death of his Quebec lieutenant, Ernest Lapointe, in November 1941, King was well aware of the need for the government to have a strong, well respected member of cabinet to serve as a new deputy for Quebec to help deal with the volatile conscription issue. In Canadian politics, a Quebec lieutenant is a politician from Quebec, usually a francophone and most often a Member of Parliament or at least a current Ernest Lapointe, PC ( October 6 1876 &ndash November 26 1941) was a Canadian politician King had been in his political infancy when he witnessed the effect that conscription had on the nation during World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All He had seen Prime Minister Robert Borden polarize the country and marginalize Quebec for standing against conscription, with the effect of seriously jeopardizing national unity - a situation he was determined to avoid. Not to be confused with his cousin Frederick Borden, Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence from 1896 to 1911

No Quebec or francophone members of Mackenzie's cabinet or government were willing to step into the role, but many recommended St-Laurent, a longtime Liberal supporter, as an ideal candidate. The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places On these recommendations, Mackenzie King recruited St-Laurent to his wartime cabinet as Minister of Justice and appreciating the gravity of the appointment and the situation St-Laurent agreed to go to Ottawa, but only on the understanding that his foray into politics was temporary and that he would return to Quebec at the conclusion of the war. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Minister of Justice (Ministre de la Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice

King appointed St-Laurent as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Lapointe's old post, on December 9. The Minister of Justice (Ministre de la Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city King felt safe in making this appointment because St-Laurent was slated to run in Lapointe's old riding, Quebec East, in a February 1942 by-election. Quebec East (also known as Québec-Est and Québec East) was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented A by-election or bye-election (called special election in the United States) is an Election held to fill a political office that has become vacant Both parties had agreed not to contest by-elections for the war's duration, but it is very likely that St-Laurent would have won in any case; at the time Quebec East was one of the safest Liberal ridings in Canada.

St-Laurent supported King's decision to introduce conscription in 1944, despite the lack of support from other French Canadians (see Conscription Crisis of 1944). Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority The Conscription Crisis of 1944 was a political and military crisis following the introduction of forced military service in Canada during World War II His support prevented more than a handful of Quebec Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs) from leaving the party, and was therefore crucial to keeping the government and the party united. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament.

Minister of External Affairs

King came to regard St-Laurent as his most trusted minister and natural successor. He persuaded St-Laurent that it was his duty to remain in government following the war in order to help with the construction of a post war international order and promoted him to the position of Secretary of State for External Affairs in 1945, a portfolio King had previously always kept for himself. Canada 's Secretary of State for External Affairs was from 1909 to 1993 the member of the Cabinet of Canada responsible for overseeing the federal government's In this role, St-Laurent represented Canada at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference and San Francisco Conference that led to the founding of the United Nations (UN). The Dumbarton Oaks Conference (or Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization) was an international conference at which the United Nations The United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO was a convention of delegates from 50 Allied nations that took place from 25 April The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security

At the conferences, St-Laurent, compelled by his belief that the UN would be ineffective in times of war and armed conflict without some military means to impose its will, advocated the adoption of a UN military force. This force he proposed would be used in situations that called for both tact and might to preserve peace or prevent combat. In 1956, this idea was actualized by St-Laurent and his Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson in the development of UN Peacekeepers that helped to put an end to the Suez Crisis. The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, (أزمة السويس - العدوان الثلاثي Crise du canal de Suez מבצע קדש Kadesh

Prime Minister of Canada

In 1948, King retired, and quietly persuaded his senior ministers to support St-Laurent's selection as the new Liberal leader at the Liberal leadership convention of August 1948. The first three leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada were not chosen at a Leadership convention. St-Laurent won, and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada on November 15. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.

The Canadian economy was one of the strongest in the world in the period immediately following the end of the war. The prosperity lasted for more than a decade, significantly expanding the Canadian national infrastructure. ^[1]

In the 1949 federal election that followed his ascension to the Liberal leadership many wondered, including Liberal party insiders, if St-Laurent would appeal to the post-war populace of Canada. The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. On the campaign trail, St-Laurent's image was developed into somewhat of a 'character' and what is considered to be the first 'media image' to be used in Canadian politics. St-Laurent chatted with children, gave speeches in his shirt sleeves, and had a 'common touch' that turned out to be appealing to voters. At one event during the 1949 election campaign, he disembarked his train and instead of approaching the assembled crowd of adults and reporters, gravitated to, and began chatting with, a group of children on the platform. A reporter submitted an article entitled "'Uncle Louis' can't lose!" which earned him the nickname "Uncle Louis" in the media (Papa Louis in Quebec). With this common touch and broad appeal, he subsequently led the party to victory in the election against the Progressive Conservative Party led by George Drew. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian George Alexander Drew, PC, CC, QC ( May 7, 1894 - January 4, 1973) was a Canadian conservative The Liberals won 190 seats--the most in Canadian history at the time, and still a record for the party.

His reputation as prime minister was impressive. He demanded hard work of all of his MPs and Ministers, and worked hard himself. He was reputed to be as knowledgeable on some ministerial portfolios as the ministers responsible themselves. To that end, Jack Pickersgill (a minister in St-Laurent's cabinet) said as prime minister St-Laurent had: "as fine an intelligence as was ever applied to the problems of government in Canada. John Whitney "Jack" Pickersgill, PC, CC ( June 23, 1905 - November 14, 1997) was a Canadian Civil He left it a richer, a more generous and more united country than it had been before he became prime minister. "

St-Laurent led the Liberals to another powerful majority in the 1953 federal election. The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada He lost several seats, but still dominated the Canadian House of Commons. The House of Commons (Chambre des communes is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and

Foreign policy

St-Laurent and his cabinet oversaw Canada's expanding international role in the postwar world. His stated desire was for Canada to occupy a social, military and economic 'Middle power' role in the post World War II world. Middle power is a term used in the field of International relations to describe States that are not Superpowers or Great powers but still have

Militarily, St-Laurent was a leading proponent of the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, serving as an architect and signatory of the treaty document. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 The North Atlantic Treaty Involvement in such an organization marked a departure from King who had been reticent about joining a military alliance. Under his leadership, Canada supported the United Nations (U. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security N. ) in the Korean War and committed the third largest overall contribution of troops, ships and aircraft to the U. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the N. forces to the conflict. Troops to Korea were selected on a voluntary basis. In 1956, under his direction, St-Laurent's Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson, helped solve the Suez Crisis in 1956 between Great Britain, France, Israel and Egypt, bringing forward St-Laurent's 1946 views on a U. The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, (أزمة السويس - العدوان الثلاثي Crise du canal de Suez מבצע קדש Kadesh See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. N. military force in the form of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) or Peacekeeping. The first United Nations Emergency Force ( UNEF) was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution It is widely believed that the activities directed by St-Laurent and Pearson could well have avoided a nuclear war. These actions were recognized when Pearson won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor

St-Laurent was an early supporter of British Prime Minister Clement Attlee's proposal to transform the British Commonwealth from a club of white dominions into a multi-racial partnership. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities under sovereign authority within the British Empire and The leaders of the other "white dominions" were less than enthusiastic. It was St-Laurent who drafted the London Declaration, recognizing King George VI as Head of the Commonwealth as a means of allowing India to remain in the international association once it became a republic. The London Declaration was a declaration issued by the governments of the Commonwealth of Nations on the issue of India 's continued membership of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II is the second person to be recognised as Head of the Commonwealth (which currently has 53 members India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its

Domestic policy

St-Laurent's government was modestly progressive and fiscally conservative, taking taxation surpluses no longer needed by the wartime military and paying back in full Canada's debts accrued during the First World War, the Great Depression and World War II. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including With remaining revenues, St-Laurent oversaw the expansion of Canada's social programs, including establishment of the Canada Council to support the arts, and the gradual expansion of social welfare programs such as family allowances, old age pensions, government funding of university and post-secondary education and an early form of Medicare termed Hospital Insurance at the time, that lay the groundwork for Tommy Douglas' healthcare system in Saskatchewan and Pearson's nationwide universal healthcare in the late 1960s. The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an Arts council of A pension is a steady income given to a person upon Retirement, typically in the form of a guaranteed annuity. This article refers to medicare a name for Canada's publicly-funded health insurance system for hospital and physician services Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, PC, CC, SOM ( October 20, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was a In addition, he modernized and established new social and industrial policies for the country during his time in the prime minister's office.

In 1949, the former lawyer of many Supreme Court cases, St-Laurent ended the practice of appealing Canadian legal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain, making the Supreme Court of Canada the highest avenue of legal appeal available to Canadians. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian In that same year, St-Laurent negotiated the British North America (No. 2) Act, 1949 with Britain which 'partially patriated' the Canadian Constitution, most significantly giving the Canadian parliament the authority to amend portions of the constitution. The British North America Acts 1867&ndash1975 are the original names of a series of Acts at the core of the Constitution of Canada. Also in 1949, following two referendums within the province St-Laurent and Premier Joey Smallwood negotiated the entry of Newfoundland into Confederation. The Newfoundland Referendums of 1948 were a series of two Referendums to decide the political future of the British Colony of Newfoundland. Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood PC, CC ( December 24, 1900 &ndash December 18 1991) was the main force Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed beginning 1 July 1867 from the

In 1952, he appointed Vincent Massey as the first Canadian-born Governor-General. Charles Vincent Massey PC CC CH CD FRSC ( February 20, 1887 – December 30, The term governor general or governor-general refers to a vice-regal representative of a Monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription Each of the aforementioned actions were and are seen as significant in furthering the cause of Canadian autonomy from Britain and developing a national identity on the international stage.

In 1956, using the Constitutional taxation authority of the federal level of government, St-Laurent's government introduced the policy of "Equalization payments" which redistributes taxation revenues between provinces to assist the poorer provinces in delivering government programs and services, a move that has been considered a strong one in solidifying the Canadian federation, particularly with his home province of Quebec. Equalization payments are cash payments made in some federal systems of government from the federal government to state or provincial governments with the objective of offsetting differences Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk

The government also engaged in massive public works and infrastructure projects such as building the Trans-Canada Highway (1949), the St. Lawrence Seaway (1954) and the Trans-Canada Pipeline. The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial Highway system that joins all ten provinces of Canada. The St Lawrence Seaway is the common name for a system of Canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes The TransCanada pipeline is a system of Natural gas pipelines up to 48 Inches (1219 Millimetres) in diameter that carries gas through Alberta It was this last project that was to sow the seeds that led to the downfall of the St-Laurent government.

St-Laurent was initially very well-received by the Canadian public, but by 1957, "Uncle Louis" and his government began to appear tired, old and out of touch. The government was also perceived to have grown too close to business interests. The 1956 Pipeline Debate led to the widespread impression that the Liberals had grown arrogant in power when the government invoked closure on numerous occasions in order to curtail debate and ensure that its Pipeline Bill passed by a specific deadline. The Pipeline Debate ( May 8 to June 6, 1956) was one of the pivotal moments in the history of the Parliament of Canada. In Parliamentary procedure, cloture (ˈkloʊtʃɝ KLO-cher (also called closure, and sometimes a guillotine) is a motion or process aimed at St. Laurent was criticized for a lack of retraint exercised on his minister C. D. Howe, who was widely perceived as extremely arrogant. Clarence Decatur "C D" Howe PC ( 15 January 1886 – 31 December 1960) was a leading Canadian politician Western Canadians felt particularly alienated by the government, believing that the Liberals were kowtowing to interests in Ontario and Quebec and the United States. (The opposition accused the government of accepting overly costly contracts that could never be completed on schedule - in the end the pipeline was completed early and under budget). The pipeline conflict turned out to be meaningless, insofar as the construction work was concerned, since pipe could not be obtained in 1956 from a striking American factory, and no work could have been done that year. ^[2] But the ensuing uproar in Parliament had a lasting impression on the electorate, and was a decisive factor in the Liberal government's defeat at the hands of the Progressive Conservative Party led by John Diefenbaker in the 1957 election. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 23rd Parliament Because the Liberals were still mostly classically liberal, Diefenbaker promised to outspend the incumbent Liberals, who campaigned on plans to stay the course of fiscal conservatism they had followed through St-Laurent's term in the 1940s and 1950s. The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political Classical liberalism (also known as traditional liberalism, Laissez-faire liberalism, Market liberalism or in much of the world

St-Laurent was the first Prime Minister to live in the present official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada: 24 Sussex Drive, from 1951 to the end of his term in office. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus 24 Sussex Drive (also called Gorffwysfa) is the Official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Defeat in the 1957 election

The defeat in the 1957 was marked by controversy within the Liberal party and the Parliament. The Liberals had actually won more popular support (actual votes cast) than the Progressive Conservatives (40. 75% Liberals to 38. 81% PC), but the Conservatives took the greatest number of seats with 112 PC candidates elected to serve out of the House of Commons 265 seats (42% of the House). The Liberals took 104 seats (39. 2%). Some ministers wanted St-Laurent to stay on and offer to form a minority government, following the logic that the popular vote had supported them and even though their Parliamentary minority was smaller than the Conservatives, the Liberals' more recent governmental experience would make them a more effective minority. A minority government or a minority cabinet is a Cabinet of a Parliamentary system formed when the governing Political party or An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office

Another option circulated within the party saw the balance of power to be held by either the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and their 25 seats or Social Credit Party of Canada with their 15. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF (French Fédération du commonwealth coopératif, then Parti social démocratique du Canada) was a Canadian The Social Credit Party of Canada ( French: Parti Crédit social du Canada) was a conservative - Populist political party in St-Laurent was encouraged by others to reach out to the CCF and at least four of six independent/small party MPs to form a coalition majority government, which would have held 134 of the 265 or 50. 1% of the seats in Parliament. St-Laurent, however, decided that the nation had passed a verdict against his government and his party and he resigned as Prime Minister rather than be seen as clinging to office.

Supreme Court appointments

St-Laurent chose the following jurists to be appointed as justices of the Supreme Court of Canada by the Governor General:

• John Robert Cartwright (December 22, 1949 – March 23, 1970)
• Joseph Honoré Gérald Fauteux (December 22, 1949 – December 23, 1973)
• Douglas Charles Abbott (July 1, 1954 – December 23, 1973)
• Patrick Kerwin (as Chief Justice, July 1, 1954 – February 2, 1963; appointed a Puisne Justice under Prime Minister Richard Bennett, July 20, 1935)
• Henry Grattan Nolan (March 1, 1956 – July 8, 1957)

Retirement

201 Grande-Allee, residence of St-Laurent in Quebec City for sixty years, now a national historical site

After a short period as Leader of the Opposition and now more than 75 years old, St- Laurent's motivation to be involved in politics was gone. The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian The Governor General of Canada ( French: Gouverneure générale du Canada, or: Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative John Robert Cartwright PC, CC, MC, LLD ( March 23, 1895 &ndash November 24 Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Joseph Honoré Gérald Fauteux, PC, CC ( October 22, 1900 – September 14, 1980) was Chief Justice of the Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Douglas Charles Abbott PC ( May 29 1899 &ndash March 15 1987) was a Canadian Member of Parliament and "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Patrick Kerwin PC ( October 25, 1889 &ndash February 2, 1963) was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A Puisne Justice or Puisne Judge (pronounced puny, and derived from the obsolete French puisné, modern French puîné, "junior" is Richard Bedford Bennett 1st Viscount Bennett PC KC ( July 3, 1870 &ndash June 26, 1947) was a Canadian Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Henry Grattan Nolan MC ( May 5, 1893 &ndash July 8, 1957) was a Canadian lawyer and jurist Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) He announced his intention to retire from politics. St-Laurent was succeeded as Liberal Party leader by his former Secretary of State for External Affairs and representative at the United Nations, Lester B. Pearson, at the party's leadership convention in 1958. The first three leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada were not chosen at a Leadership convention.

After his political retirement, he returned to practising law and living quietly and privately with his family. During his retirement, he was called into the public spotlight one final time in 1967 for the inception of the award, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada the highest civilian honour for which Canadians are eligible. The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin

Louis Stephen St-Laurent died on July 25, 1973, in Quebec City, Quebec, aged 91 from natural causes, and was laid to rest at St. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Quebec City ( French: Ville de Québec, or simply Québec) (kwɨˈbɛk or /keˈbɛk/ is the Capital of the Canadian province Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Thomas Aquinas Cemetery in his hometown of Compton, Quebec. He is survived by granddaughter Louise Mignault and grandson Louis St-Laurent II.

References

1. ^ Mr. Prime Minister 1867-1964, by Bruce Hutchison, Toronto 1964, Longmans Canada. William Bruce Hutchison ( 5 June 1901 &ndash 14 September 1992) was a Canadian author and journalist
2. ^ Mr. Prime Minister 1867-1964, by Bruce Hutchison. William Bruce Hutchison ( 5 June 1901 &ndash 14 September 1992) was a Canadian author and journalist

External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament
• Order of Canada Citation
• CBC Digital Archives – Uncle Louis and Canada's Golden Age