Learn / People who shaped Canada
Wilfrid Laurier
The first French-speaking prime minister, fifteen unbroken years, and the sunny way.
Life story
- November 20, 1841 · Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec
Born at Saint-Lin in Canada East - 1874 · Arthabaska, Quebec
Elected to the House of Commons for Drummond-Arthabaska - July 11, 1896 · Ottawa
Became prime minister, the first francophone to hold the office - 1897 · Winnipeg
Settled the Manitoba schools question by compromise rather than coercion - September 1, 1905 · Saskatchewan and Alberta
Created Alberta and Saskatchewan as the prairies filled with settlers - September 21, 1911 · Ottawa
Lost on reciprocity with the United States and on the naval question - 1917 · Quebec City
Opposed conscription and watched his party split in two - February 17, 1919 · Ottawa
Died in Ottawa, still leader of the opposition
In the timeline
- 1896 — Laurier takes office
- 1903 — The Alaska boundary award
- 1905 — Alberta and Saskatchewan
- 1918 — The conscription crisis