William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King was Canada’s longest-serving prime minister, leading the country from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948.

Wilfrid Laurier: Wilfrid Laurier was Canada’s prime minister from 1896 to 1911 and the Liberal leader who mentored King. Laurier’s example and support helped launch King’s Liberal political career.
Conscription Crisis of 1944: The 1944 Canadian political crisis over sending conscripts overseas during the Second World War. King’s decision to send conscripts overseas tested his promise to avoid another conscription crisis.
Canadian social security: Public programs in Canada that protect people against poverty, unemployment, illness, and old age. King’s governments established federal programs that became foundations of Canada’s social safety net.
Mackenzie King Diaries: William Lyon Mackenzie King’s extensive private diaries, kept from youth until shortly before his death. The diaries expose the private reflections behind the public politician’s guarded image.
University of Toronto: A public research university in Toronto, founded in 1827. King studied there before pursuing graduate work and a career in public service.
Arthur Meighen: Arthur Meighen was a Conservative prime minister of Canada and a leading opponent of King. Their contests for office repeatedly defined the rivalry between Canada’s Liberals and Conservatives.
Conscription Crisis of 1917: Canada’s political and social crisis over compulsory military service during the First World War. Its bitter divisions informed King’s strategy for limiting conscription in the next world war.
Unemployment insurance in Canada: A federal Canadian program providing income support to eligible people who lose their jobs. King’s government introduced national unemployment insurance in 1940.
Spiritualism: A religious movement centered on communication with the spirits of the dead. King’s private interest in séances and spirit communication became a striking part of his personal life.
Harvard University: A private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1636. King earned graduate degrees at Harvard, where he studied political economy.

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