07/22/2025
Remembering William Lyon Mackenzie King
Seventy-five years ago today, Canadians mourned the loss of former prime minister William Lyon Mackenize King. Having served as the country’s 10th prime minister over three non-consecutive terms, King left a huge imprint on the Canada we know today.
King was a dominant national politician for three decades, covering a span from the early 1920s to the late ’40s. Lauded for his leadership throughout the Great Depression and the Second World War, his accomplishments included but weren’t limited to:
• The introduction of Canadian citizenship.
• The negotiation of Newfoundland’s entry into Confederation.
• Establishment of a post-war agenda that helped lower wartime taxes and tariffs.
• Expansion of the Department of External Affairs, making Canada’s foreign policy more autonomous.
• Introduction of old-age pensions based on need.
• Introduction of unemployment insurance and family allowances, spearheading Canada’s first universal welfare program.
• Helped bring about the establishment Trans-Canada Air Lines (later renamed Air Canada).
• Pivotal role in the formation of the National Film Board of Canada.
A lifelong bachelor, King had few close relationships aside from his beloved dogs, but possessed a fascination with the occult and spiritual world. He believed his family was watching over him, something he confirmed through the use of mediums and seances. He would regularly see signs of their presence and would interpret his dreams as messages from the beyond.
After leading our country for 21 years and 154 days (the longest of any prime minister), King retired from politics in 1948 and later died of pneumonia on July 22, 1950. Historically, King is one of our most distinguished Prime Ministers and the $50 Canadian banknote bears his resemblance. The Mackenzie King Estate, his private country retreat, was bequeathed to the Government of Canada and continues to draw tourists from across the country to this day.
© Tompkins Funeral Home/CFHC Online
