Robert Laird Borden

The Right Honourable Sir Robert Laird Borden (June 26, 1854 - June 10, 1937) was the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920.

He was born on in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia.

In 1880, he was initiated into St. Andrew's masonic Lodge #1 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In 1889 he married Laura Bond (1863-1940). Professionally, Borden's list of careers ran the gamut. From 1868-1874 he worked as a teacher in Nova Scotia and New Jersey. Afterwards he became a lawyer (date/school?) and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1878. He was the Chancellor of Queen's University from 1924-1930 and stood as president of two financial institutions.

Robert became leader of the opposition in 1901 and slowly rebuilt his party. In 1911, he swept to power, campaigning against Sir Wilfrid Laurier's plan for free trade with the United States.

As Prime Minister of Canada during the First World War, Borden committed Canada to provide half a million soldiers for the war effort. His determination to meet that huge commitment led to the conscription crisis in 1917, which split the country on linguistic lines. But the war effort also enabled Canada to assert itself in world affairs, and Borden played a crucial role in transforming the British Empire into a partnership of equal states.

Convinced that Canada had become a nation on the battlefields of Europe, Sir Robert Borden retired in 1920.

He died in Ottawa on June 10, 1937 and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario.

Sir Robert Borden is depicted on the Canadian hundred-dollar bill.

Preceded by: Wilfrid Laurier

Prime Minister of Canada

Followed by: Arthur Meighen