Sir
Robert Borden
BORDEN, Sir Robert
Laird (1854-1937), Canadian statesman, was born in
Grand Pré, N.S. He studied law in Halifax and became a
leading
attorney in Nova Scotia. Elected to the Canadian House
of Commons in
1896 as a Conservative party member, he became leader
of the
Conservative opposition in 1901. Borden became prime minister
of
Canada in 1911, and he revamped the government and its
policies to
meet the needs of the country's new industrial society.
During World
War I his ministry maintained vigorous Canadian support
of the efforts
of the Allies and obtained for members of the Commonwealth
of
Nations a voice in British policymaking. Largely through
his efforts,
Canada secured independent membership in the League of
Nations. In
1917 Borden sponsored the Military Service Act instituting
conscription,
which he considered necessary to the war effort. The measure
was
opposed by the French-Canadians and contributed to the
growing
antagonism between the French- and English-speaking Canadians.
Borden formed a coalition government in 1917 and remained
prime
minister until ill health forced him to resign in 1920.
As prime minister Borden took part in the Imperial War
Conference in
London in 1917 and in the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
He also
represented Canada at the Washington Conference on naval
disarmament in 1921-22.
