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Sir Robert Laird Borden

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"SIR ROBERT LAIRD BORDEN (1854-), Canadian statesman ( see 4.245), became leader of the Conservative Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons in Feb. 1901, on the resignation of Sir Charles Tupper. This position he held until 1911, when the Laurier Administration was defeated on the TaftFielding Reciprocity Compact with the United States; he was then called upon to form in Oct. 1911 a new administration and was swor.n of the Privy Council Jan. i 19r2, taking office as president of the King's Privy Council of Canada in the new Cabinet. For the purpose of more effectively carrying on Canada's part in the World War he formed, in Oct. 1917, a Union Government, comprising members of both the Liberal and Conservative parties, in which he took office as Secretary of State for External Affairs. The Union Government was returned to power in the general election of Dec. 17 1917. Borden was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet and Imperial War Conference 1917-8 held in London, England, but owing to ill health resigned the premiership in 1919. He was created G.C.M.G. in 1914.