Wilfrid Laurier Biography

(7th Prime Minister of Canada (1896 -1911))

Birthday: November 20, 1841 (Scorpio)

Born In: Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Canada

Wilfrid Laurier was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as the seventh prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. Regarded as one of the country’s greatest statesmen, he is remembered mostly for his attempts to define the role of French Canada in the federal state. Laurier was born in Saint-Lin to French-Canadian parents, and he studied at the Collège de L'Assomption, where he was taught by Catholic priests. He later went to McGill University in Montreal and was eventually called to the bar in 1864. During his time at the university, he became a leading member of the Institut Canadien, which was a political club of advanced liberals. He was chosen as the leader of the federal Liberal Party in 1887, and he gradually built up his party’s strength through his personal following, both in Quebec and in other places in Canada. He eventually led the Liberal Party to victory in the 1896 election, becoming the prime minister. He held this position until the Liberal Party was defeated by the Conservative Party in the 1911 election.
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Quick Facts

Canadian Celebrities Born In November

Also Known As: Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier

Died At Age: 77

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Zoé Laurier

father: Carolus Laurier

mother: Marie Marcelle Martineau

Born Country: Canada

Lawyers Political Leaders

Died on: February 17, 1919

place of death: Ottawa, Canada

Cause of Death: Stroke

More Facts

education: McGill University

awards: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

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    What were Wilfrid Laurier's major accomplishments?

    Wilfrid Laurier was the first French-Canadian Prime Minister of Canada, known for his efforts in promoting national unity and expanding Canada's territory through the addition of provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan.

  • 2

    What was Wilfrid Laurier's stance on bilingualism in Canada?

    Wilfrid Laurier was a strong advocate for bilingualism in Canada, supporting both English and French as official languages and working to protect the rights of French-speaking Canadians.

  • 3

    How did Wilfrid Laurier impact Canada's economy during his time in office?

    Wilfrid Laurier implemented economic policies that focused on promoting trade and industrial development, contributing to Canada's economic growth during his tenure as Prime Minister.

  • 4

    What was Wilfrid Laurier's approach to foreign policy?

    Wilfrid Laurier pursued a policy of expansionism and sought to establish Canada as an independent nation on the world stage, while maintaining strong ties with the British Empire.

  • 5

    How did Wilfrid Laurier handle the issue of conscription during World War I?

    Wilfrid Laurier faced challenges regarding conscription during World War I, ultimately supporting voluntary enlistment while trying to maintain national unity amidst divisions over the issue.

Childhood & Early Life
Wilfried Laurier was born on 20th November 1841, in Saint-Lin, Canada East. His parents, Carolus Laurier and Marcelle Martineau, were of French-Canadian origin.
He studied at College de L’Assomption and graduated in law from McGill University in 1864. During this time, he was a leading member of the Institut Canadien, a political club of advanced liberals.
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Career
Wilfrid Laurier was chosen as a leader of the federal Liberal Party of Canada in 1887. With the help of his personal following throughout the country, he gradually built up the party’s strength. He was also appointed minister of inland revenue in Alexander Mackenzie’s Cabinet.
He tried to unite his countrymen on significant issues, such as relations of the church with the state, the bicultural entente between French and English-speaking Canadians, and Canada’s association with the British Empire and US.
He became a national figure in 1885, when he delivered a moving plea of clemency for Louis Riel. His death sentence had provoked violent outbursts between the French Catholic nationalists and the Britannic groups of Ontario.
In a courageous move, Laurier charged the government with mishandling the rebellion. However, he didn’t condone Riel’s actions. He didn’t succeed in stopping the execution, but he established his reputation as a man of principle and high ideals.
He was made the leader of the Liberal Party in 1887, after which he started devoting himself to building a truly national party as well as to regain power gradually. He also gained the trust of the French Canadians, who started believing he would be more supportive of minority rights than the Conservatives.
On 23rd June 1896, he was chosen as the country’s new prime minister, over the Conservative Party’s Charles Tupper, and took charge on 11 July 1986.
As prime minister, he focused on accelerating the country’s development and implementing policies that would lead to unity throughout the nation. However, he did not champion the minority rights of the Catholics.
Over the years, he led Canada through a period of rapid growth and industrialization. In 1899, when the United Kingdom expected military support from Canada in the Second Boer War, Laurier decided to send a volunteer force instead of the militia, which the British expected.
He visited UK later on and took part in the 1902 Colonia Conference and the coronation of King Edward VII on August 9th. During his time in Europe, he visited France as well to negotiate on trade with the French government.
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The naval competition between UK and Germany escalated in the early years of the 20th century. The British asked Canada for more money as well as resources for the construction of ships, which led to a heated political discussion in Canada.
Laurier tried to compromise, and advanced the Naval Service Act of 1910, which led to the creation of the Naval Service of Canada. It initially had five cruisers and six destroyers. At times of crisis, it would aid the British Royal Navy.
A controversy arose in 1911, when Laurier supported trade reciprocity with US. His minister of finance, William Stevens Fielding, had made an agreement which allowed free trade of natural products. Though this supported agricultural interests, it alienated many businessmen who strongly supported the Liberal Party.
Laurier was eventually defeated in the next election, and Robert Laird Borden from the Conservative Party became the new prime minister.
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Family & Personal Life
Wilfrid Laurier married Zoe Lafontaine in Montreal, on 13th May 1868. She was the daughter of GNR Lafontaine and his first wife, Zoe Tessier. The couple had no children.
Laurier also had an affair with a married woman named Emilie Barthe. It is rumored that they also had a child together, Armand Lavergne.
Laurier died of a stroke on 17th February 1919, while he was still in office as the leader of the opposition. His funeral took place at the Notre Dame Cemetery.
Facts About Wilfrid Laurier

Wilfrid Laurier was known for his impeccable fashion sense, often sporting stylish suits and hats that stood out in a crowd.

Laurier was a talented orator and was fluent in both English and French, captivating audiences with his eloquent speeches.

He had a great love for literature and was an avid reader, with a particular fondness for poetry and political philosophy.

Laurier was a skilled piano player and enjoyed playing music in his spare time, finding it to be a relaxing and rewarding hobby.

Despite his busy political career, Laurier made time to enjoy the outdoors and was known to take long walks to clear his mind and stay connected to nature.

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See the events in life of Wilfrid Laurier in Chronological Order

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- Wilfrid Laurier Biography
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