Arthur Meighen

Arthur Meighen

Rank:	9th (1920-1921, 1926)
Date of Birth:	June 16, 1874
Place of Birth:	Anderson, Ontario
Spouse:	Isabel J. Cox
Profession:	lawyer
Political Party:	Conservative, Unionist

Arthur Meighen (June 16, 1874 - August 5, 1960) was the ninth Prime Minister of Canada from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921 and June 29 to September 25, 1926.

Meighen was born in Anderson, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from at the University of Toronto, gaining a B.A. in Mathematics in 1896. In 1904 he married Isabel J. Cox (1882 - 1985) with whom he had two sons and one daughter.

Meighen experimented in several professions, including those of teacher, lawyer and businessman before becoming involved in politics as a member of the Conservative party of Canada. In 1919, as acting Minister of Justice and senior Manitoban in the government of Robert Laird Borden, he helped put down the Winnipeg General Strike. In 1920 he became leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party and Prime Minister when Borden resigned. He fought the 1921 election under the banner of the National Liberal and Conservative Party in an attempt to keep the allegiance of Liberals who had supported the wartime Unionist government and continued to lead the Conservative Party (having reverted to its traditional name) until 1926 and returned to lead the party again from 1941 to 1942. Although he is often considered the one of the greatest intellects and public speakers to have served in Parliament, he served only two short periods as Prime Minister of Canada.

The Conservatives lost popularity as a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and Meighen lost the 1921 election to William Lyon Mackenzie King despite his party's new name. The Tories won a plurality of seats in the inconclusive election of 1925, though King was able to cling to power until 1926. Meighen was invited to form a government by Lord Byng, the Governor General, as part of the "King-Byng affair" (see the article on Lord Byng). His government was quickly defeated in the Commons and he promptly called an election. He and his party were swept from office and Meighen resigned as Conservative Party leader. He was appointed to the Senate in 1932 and made a brief return to elective politics in 1942 when he again led the Conservative Party only to be defeated in his attempt to be elected to a seat in the House of Commons.

Arthur Meighen died in Toronto, Ontario on August 5, 1960 and was buried in St. Marys Cemetery, St. Marys, Ontario, near his birthplace.