Skip to main content

Lester B. Pearson

Prime Minister of Canada, Canadian 1897-1972
Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968
Pearson created the Canada Pension Plan in 1965, oversaw the adoption of a new national flag , and created a national health plan in 1966. 1928-1935 Served as first secretary of the Department of External Affairs, 1935-1941 Served as first secretary of the Canadian High Commission in London, 1945 Attended founding conference of the United Nations, 1945-1946 Served as Canadian ambassador to the United States, 1946 Served as undersecretary of state for external affairs, 1948-1957 Served as secretary of state for external affairs, and was pivotal in establishing NATO, 1951-1952 Served as chairman of the NATO Council, 1952-1953 Served as president of the United Nations General Assembly, 1957 Received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his peace-keeping efforts during the 1956 Suez Crisis, 1958-1968 Led the Liberal Party, April 1963 Won election as prime minister; the Liberal Party returned to power in a minority government, April 1968 Retired as prime minister.