Pearson, Lester Bowles

Person

Pearson, Lester Bowles

1897-1972

Lester Bowles Pearson was born at Newtonbrook, Ontario in 1897. He was educated at the University of Toronto (B.A. 1919) and Oxford (B.A. 1923, M.A. 1925). After service in World War I, he joined the Faculty of the University of Toronto. In 1928, he joined the Department of External Affairs and served in a number of responsible positions with that department including service at Canada House in London from 1935 to1941 and at the Canadian Legation in Washington from 1942 to 1945. He was appointed Ambassador to Washington, 1945-1946 and Deputy Minister of External Affairs 1946-1948. He was named to the cabinet of the Rt. Hon. Louis St-Laurent as Secretary of State for External Affairs, when he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1948. Pearson held that post from 1948 until 1957. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Mr. Pearson was elected Leader of the Liberal Party in 1958 and served as Leader of the Opposition from that date until 22 April 1963 when he became Prime Minister. He retired from politics in 1968, assuming the chairmanship of the Commission on International Development, whose report was issued in 1969. Mr Pearson was Chairman of the International Development Research Centre from 1970 until his death in 1972.

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