William Lyon Mackenzie

William Lyon Mackenzie

William Lyon Mackenzie King was the dominate Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926 from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930 and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948. A Liberal with 22 years in office, he was the longest-serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Trained in law and social work. He kept secret his beliefs in spiritualism and the use of mediums to stay in contact with departed associates and particularly his mother, and allowed his intense spirituality to distort his understanding of Adolf Hitler. He led the liberal party for 29 years, and established Canada’s international reputation as a middle power fully committed to world order. King was born in Berlin, Ontario. His maternal grandfather was William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor of Toronto and leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. King earned five university degrees. He obtained two degrees from the University of Toronto. King was first elected to Parliament as liberal in a 1908 by-election, and he was re-elected by acclamation in a 1909 by-election following his appointment as the first ever Minister of Labour. Kings term as Minister of Labour was marked down by two significant achievements. He led the passage of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act and the Combines Investigation Act, which he had shaped during his civil and parliamentary service. After his defeat King went on the lecture circuit on behalf of the Liberal Party. In June 1914 John D. Rockefeller Jr. hired him as a director of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City, heading their new Department of Industrial Research. It paid 12,000 per year, compared to the meager 2,500 per year the Liberal Party was paying.Quitting the Rockefeller Foundation in February in 1918 he became an independent consultant on labour issues for the next two years, earning 1,000 per week from leading American...

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