Sir Robert Laird Borden
(1854-1937)
When Sir Robert Laird Borden succeeded Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty as Chancellor of Queen's in 1924, he was one of the most well known men in Canada. He had served as Prime Minister from 1911-1920, leading Canada through WWI and helping the young nation take important steps to independence from Britain.

Borden was born on June 26, 1854 in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. He was raised on a farm and taught school briefly in Nova Scotia before he began articling with a law firm in Halifax. He was admitted to the bar in 1878, and by the early 1890's he was head of the largest and most presitigious law firm in the Maritimes. Borden was by this time one of Halifax's leading citizens, and Prime Minister Sir Charles Tupper convinced him to run in the 1896 election as a Conservative.

In Ottawa, Borden was highly successful in the political world due to the fact that he was intelligent, had a firm grasp of the issues, and spoke very well. Only four years later, in 1901, his party selected him as their leader. As Leader of the Opposition, he advocated putting an end to 'patronage' in government, and demanded that appointments be made on merit alone. He also believed that the government should be responsible for running such essential services as railways, telephone systems, and electricity.

In the 1911 election, the main issue was free trade with the United States, which Borden opposed, and his government defeated that of Sir Wilfred Laurier. As Prime Minister, his main task was the management of WWI which broke out in 1914. His government passed the Emergency War Measures Act in 1914, and also began the collection of direct income tax, which Canadians were assured was "a temporary measure." In 1917 he fought a hard election against Wilfred Laurier's government on the issue of conscription. Borden's government was in favour of it, and he managed to win the election by forming the Union government with many of Laurier's former supporters.

When the war ended, Borden persuaded Britain to let Canada sign the Treaty of Versailles for itself, and also to have its own seat in the League of Nations; he took important steps towards a completely independent Canadian government. Borden retired from politics in 1920, concentrating on his various business affairs, writing his memoirs, and holding the Chancellorship of Queen's University. Borden took a close interest in the University, and his connections proved useful in its dealings with various government departments. He retired from the post in 1929.