Louis Stephen Saint Laurent

The Right Honourable Louis Stephen Saint Laurent (February 1, 1882 - July 25, 1973) was the twelfth Prime Minister of Canada from November 15, 1948 to June 21, 1957.

He was born in Compton, Quebec[?].

Louis St. Laurent received degrees from St. Charles Seminary (B.A. 1902) and Laval University[?] (LL.L. 1905).

In 1908 he married Jeanne Renault (1886-1966) with whom he had two sons and three daughters.

He worked as a lawyer from 1905 to 1914, at which point he became a professor of law at Laval University. Louis St. Laurent practised law in Québec and became one of the country's most respected counsels. Needing strong ministers from Quebec, Prime Minister King recruited St. Laurent to his cabinet in 1942, then supported his selection as the new Liberal leader and Prime Minister of Canada in 1948.

St. Laurent's cabinet team oversaw Canada's expanding international role in the postwar world, welcomed Newfoundland into Confederation, and established new social and industrial policies. But by 1957 both the prime minister and his government began to appear tired and too long in office. Defeated in the general election that year, St. Laurent soon retired.

He died on July 25, 1973, in Quebec City, Quebec and is buried at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery in his hometown of Compton, Quebec.

Preceded by: Mackenzie King

Prime Minister of Canada

Followed by: John Diefenbaker