John Diefenbaker

The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker, CH , PC , QC , BA , MA , LL.B , LL.D , FRSC , FRSA , D.Litt , DSL (September 18, 1895 – August 16, 1979) was the thirteenth Prime Minister of Canada (1957 – 1963). Born in Neustadt, Ontario, Canada, he received a BA in 1915, an MA in Political Science and Economics in 1916, and an LL.B in 1919 from the University of Saskatchewan. Diefenbaker married Edna Brower (1901-1951) in 1929. In 1953, he married his second wife, Olive Palmer (1902-1976), who had a daughter from a previous marriage.

Party leader and Member of Parliament

Diefenbaker lost the 1963 federal election to Lester Pearson and the Liberals.

Related Topics:
1963 federal election - Lester Pearson - Liberals

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Diefenbaker continued as PC party leader after the 1963 election. In the 1964 Great Flag Debate, Diefenbaker led the opposition to the Maple Leaf flag arguing for the retention of the Canadian Red Ensign. To the surprise of many, he ran an aggressive campaign in the 1965 election, and held Pearson's Liberals to a minority government. Pearson had called the election expecting to win a majority. His most passionate intervention as Leader of the Opposition was his opposition to the proposed maple leaf flag which he castigated as the "Pearson Pennant".

Related Topics:
1964 - Great Flag Debate - Maple Leaf flag - Canadian Red Ensign - 1965 election - Leader of the Opposition

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Growing dissatisfaction with his leadership, however, led to open dissension within the party. Party president Dalton Camp called for a leadership review, a measure for which there was no provision in the party's constitution. Camp's efforts resulted in the Progressive Conservative Party calling a leadership convention in 1967. Although Diefenbaker stood as a candidate for the leadership, he was defeated by Nova Scotia Premier Robert Stanfield. Diefenbaker retained his parliamentary seat for the next twelve years until his death. In 1969, he was also named chancellor at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Related Topics:
Dalton Camp - Leadership convention - 1967 - Nova Scotia - Premier - Robert Stanfield - 1969 - University of Saskatchewan - Saskatoon

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Diefenbaker died on August 16, 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario, and is buried beside the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. He had a special ceremony in place, so that the Maple Leaf flag was draped on his casket first, and then the Red Ensign that he defended so intensely in parliament was laid over it. His state funeral was carried out as he had planned years earlier.

Related Topics:
August 16 - 1979 - Ottawa, Ontario - Maple Leaf flag - State funeral

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