King, William Lyon Mackenzie National Historic Person
Kitchener, Ontario
W.L. Mackenzie King, 1926
© Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-000389
Address :
528 Wellington Street North, Woodside National Historic Site, Kitchener, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1968-06-19
Life Date:
1874 to 1950
Other Name(s):
-
King, William Lyon Mackenzie
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Longest serving Prime Minister of Canada (1921-26, 1926-30, 1935-48), through World War II
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: 528 Wellington Street North, Kitchener, Ontario
Mackenzie King, grandson of William Lyon Mackenzie, was born in Berlin, now Kitchener, Ontario. As a public servant he organized the Department of Labour, and was recognized as an authority on industrial relations. Entering politics in 1908, he became leader of the Liberal Party in 1919, Prime Minister in 1921, and except for three months in 1926, and the years 1930-1935, remained in office until his retirement in 1948. His great skill in compromise enabled him to maintain the political balance among Canada's peoples and regions. He died at Kingsmere, Québec, and was buried in Toronto.