John George Diefenbaker

13th Prime Minister of Canada

June 21, 1957 - April 22, 1963

Born

• September 18, 1895 in Neustadt, Ontario

Education

• University of Saskatchewan, B.A. 1915, M.A. Political Science and Economics 1916, LL.B. 1919

Personal Status

• Married 1929, Edna Brower (1901-1951)
• Re-married 1953, Olive Palmer (1902-1976)
• One stepdaughter

Professional Life

• 1916-1917 Lieutenant, 105th Saskatoon Fusiliers
• Criminal lawyer (called to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1919)
• 1936-1938 Leader, Saskatchewan Conservative Party

Died

• August 16, 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario

Buried

• Grounds of Diefenbaker Canada Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Party

• Progressive Conservative
• 1956-1967 Party Leader

Constituencies

• 1940-1953 Lake Centre, Saskatchewan
• 1953-1979 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Other Ministries

• 1957 External Affairs
• 1959 External Affairs (Acting)
• 1962-1963 President of the Privy Council

Political Record

• Leader of the Opposition 1956-1957
• Appointed Ellen Fairclough first woman Cabinet Minister 1957
• Canadian Bill of Rights 1958
• Appointed James Gladstone Canada's first Aboriginal senator 1958
• Franchise extended to all Aboriginals 1960
• Royal Commission on Health Services 1961
• Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act 1961
• Created the National Productivity Council (Economic Council of Canada) 1963
• Leader of the Opposition 1963-1967