Pearson, Lester B.

Pearson, Lester B.

▪ prime minister of Canada
in full  Lester Bowles Pearson 
born April 23, 1897, Toronto, Ont., Can.
died Dec. 27, 1972, Ottawa
 politician, diplomat, and prime minister of Canada (1963–68), who was prominent as a mediator in international disputes. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1957.

      Pearson served in World War I (1914–18) and lectured in history at the University of Toronto (1924–28), after studying there and at the University of Oxford. He joined the Canadian foreign service in 1928 and became first secretary in the Department of External Affairs. He served on two royal commissions (1931) and as counselor of the Canadian high commissioner's office in London (1935).

      Recalled to Canada in 1941, Pearson then served as ambassador to the United States in 1945–46. He headed the Canadian delegation at the United Nations from 1948 to 1956, and he was president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1952–53. In 1948 he became secretary of state for external affairs in the Liberal government of Louis Saint Laurent, having entered Parliament for Algoma East. He represented Canada at the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, and in 1951 he was chairman of that organization. In 1957 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to solve the Suez crisis of 1956.

      Pearson succeeded Saint Laurent as leader of the Liberal Party (Liberal Party of Canada) in 1958 and became prime minister in 1963. His government introduced a national pension plan and a family assistance program, broadened old-age security benefits, and laid the groundwork for the National Free Medical Service. Under Pearson, the government also introduced Canada's first distinctive national flag and adopted an official national anthem. Pearson resigned as prime minister in 1968 and retired from politics.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Pearson,Lester Bowles — Pear·son (pîrʹsən), Lester Bowles. 1897 1972. Canadian politician who served as prime minister (1963 1968). He won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the negotiation of a solution to the Suez crisis (1956). * * * …   Universalium

  • Pearson, Lester B(owles) — born April 23, 1897, Toronto, Ont., Can. died Dec. 27, 1972, Ottawa, Ont. Prime minister of Canada (1963–68). He taught at the University of Toronto from 1924 until 1928, when he joined the Canadian foreign service. He was posted to Britain from… …   Universalium

  • Pearson, Lester Bowles — ► (1897 1972) Político canadiense. Fue premio Nobel de la Paz en 1957 …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Pearson, Lester B(owles) — (23 abr. 1897, Toronto, Ontario, Canadá–27 dic. 1972, Ottawa, Ontario). Primer ministro de Canadá (1963–68). Fue profesor en la Universidad de Toronto entre 1924 y 1928, año en que se incorporó al servicio exterior canadiense. Se desempeñó en… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Lester B. Pearson — Lester Pearson Lester Bowles „Mike“ Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE (* 23. April 1897 in Newtonbrook, Ontario (heute zu Toronto gehörig); † 27. Dezember 1972 in Ottawa) war e …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lester Bowles Pearson — Lester Pearson Lester Bowles „Mike“ Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE (* 23. April 1897 in Newtonbrook, Ontario (heute zu Toronto gehörig); † 27. Dezember 1972 in Ottawa) war e …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lester Pearson — Lester Bowles „Mike“ Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE (* 23. April 1897 in Newtonbrook, Ontario (heute zu Toronto gehörig); † 27. Dezember 1972 in Ottawa) war ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lester B. Pearson — Lester Bowles Pearson Pour les articles homonymes, voir Pearson. Lester Bowles Pearson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lester Pearson — Lester Bowles Pearson Pour les articles homonymes, voir Pearson. Lester Bowles Pearson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pearson (surname) — Pearson is a surname, and may refer to many people.A* Adam Pearson, chairman of Derby County * Albie Pearson, American baseball player * Alister Pearson, British illustrator * Allison Pearson, British journalist * April Pearson, British actress * …   Wikipedia

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