Canadian politician and statesman who serves as the seventh prime minister of Canada
1841 CE
to 1919 CE
Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier GCMG, PC, KC (November 20, 1841 – February 17, 1919) is a Canadian politician and statesman who serves as the seventh prime minister of Canada, in office from July 11, 1896 to October 6, 1911.
Laurier is often considered one of the country's greatest statesmen.
He is well known for his policies of conciliation, expanding Confederation, and compromise between French and English Canada.
His vision for Canada is a land of individual liberty and decentralized federalism.
He also argued for an English–French partnership in Canada.
"I have had before me as a pillar of fire," he said, "a policy of true Canadianism, of moderation, of reconciliation."
He passionately defendd individual liberty, "Canada is free and freedom is its nationality," and "Nothing will prevent me from continuing my task of preserving at all cost our civil liberty."
Laurier is also well-regarded for his efforts to establish Canada as an autonomous country within the British Empire, and he supports the continuation of the Empire if it is based on "absolute liberty political and commercial".
In addition, he is a strict nationalist, argues for a more competitive Canada through limited government, and is an adherent of fiscal discipline.
A 2011 Maclean's historical ranking of the Prime Ministers places Laurier first.
Canada's first francophone prime minister, Laurier holds a number of records
He is tied with Sir John A. Macdonald for the most consecutive federal elections won (four), and his fifteen-year tenure remains the longest unbroken term of office among prime ministers.
In addition, his nearly forty-five years (1874–1919) of service in the House of Commons is a record for that house.
At thirty-one years, eigh months, Laurier is the longest-serving leader of a major Canadian political party, surpassing William Lyon Mackenzie King by over two years.
Along with King, he also holds the distinction of serving as Prime Minister during the reigns of three Canadian Monarchs.
Finally, he is the fourth-longest serving Prime Minister of Canada, behind King, Macdonald, and Pierre Trudeau.
Laurier's portrait has been displayed on the Canadian five-dollar bill since 1972.
