William Lyon Mackenzie King

Born in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario to John M. King and Isabel Grace Mackenzie. His grandfather was William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor of Toronto and leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. King graduated from the University of Toronto in 1895 and he also graduated from Harvard University in 1898. In 1905, King graduated from the University of Chicago, but got no degree. King lost his seat in the 1911 federal election and worked for the Rockefeller foundation and in 1917, King lost his seat again. In 1919, with the death of Sir Wilfred Laurier, King became leader of the Liberal party. In 1921, King won his seat after defeating Arthur Meighen in the 1921 election and became the 10th Prime Minister of Canada. But in 1925, King lost his seat because of the King-Byng Affair, causing Meighen to win. In September of 1926, King defeated Meighen again. The Stock Market Crashed in 1929, causing the Great Depression to start, King lost his seat in the 1930 federal election against R. B. Bennett. King was able to defeat Bennett in the 1935 federal election. Throughout World War II, King met famous state leaders, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. King retired from the Liberal party and as Prime Minister in 1948 and Louis St. Laurent took his spot. On July 22, 1950, King died of pneumonia in Chelsea, Quebec. He was 75 years old.