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Lester B. Pearson
Helping establish UN peacekeeping during the Suez Crisis and leading Canada’s government.
UN Emergency Force · Canadian flag
- Born
- 23 April 1897
- Birthplace
- Newtonbrook, Ontario, Canada
- Died
- 27 December 1972
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Canadian diplomat and prime minister associated with peacekeeping and major social-policy reforms.
Early life
Minister’s household
Grew up as the son of a Methodist minister in Ontario.
War and university
Served during the First World War and studied at Toronto and Oxford.
Career
- 1920s–1940s
Diplomatic service
Moved from university teaching into foreign affairs and became ambassador to the United States.
- 1948–1958
Foreign minister
Led Canadian diplomacy and served as president of the UN General Assembly.
- 1963–1968
Prime minister
Headed minority governments that introduced major national programmes.
Leadership
UN Emergency Force
Helped develop the peacekeeping response to the Suez Crisis.
Canadian flag
Oversaw adoption of the maple-leaf flag.
Medical Care Act
His government established the framework for national public medical insurance.
Beyond work
Sport
Played several sports as a young man and retained a strong interest in baseball.
Writing
Worked on memoirs after leaving office.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: ABC Television. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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