Biography

Born in Newtonbrook, Ontario, Lester Bowles Pearson was the son of Annie Sarah Bowles and Edwin Arthur Pearson. Throughout World War I, Pearson volunteered for service and entered in it. He survived an aeroplane crash and Pearson went by the code name, "Mike".

After World War I, Pearson returned back to school and received his Bachelor of Arts in Toronto in 1919. In 1925, Pearson married Maryon Moody, who was from Winnipeg. Together, they had two children, Geoffrey and Patricia. In 1929, with the Stock Market Crash and Mackenzie King's defeat, Pearson entered his diplomatic career. During World War II, he served in the United Kingdom. After the war, Pearson served as the second Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.

In 1957, Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Suez Canal Crisis. The following year, he became leader of the Liberal Party, after Louis St. Laurent retired. In 1963, Pearson defeated John Diefenbaker in the 1963 election. Pearson remained Prime Minister until April 20, 1968, when Pierre Trudeau defeated him.

Pearson remained active until he died from cancer on December 27, 1972. He was 75 years old.
- IMDb mini biography by: Garchomp2017

Known for always wearing bow ties in public

Prime minister of Canada (1963-1968).

Toronto's main international and domestic airport is named after him, Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

Inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, 1983 (charter member)

Was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for helping to resolve the Suez Canal crisis as Canada's Minister of External Affairs. Furthermore, he was the first Canadian to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 (inaugural class).

The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants and for peace like retarded pygmies.

As one who has known both the shelter of academic halls and the anonymous security of the civil service, I have at times had my own doubts about the wisdom of venturing forth, with wary shield and uncertain sword, among the lions in the open forum of party politics. But that's where the action is today. Without action we can't make progress, no matter how brilliant our thoughts may be. (1967)

I had none of the gifts of the actor who can play on people's emotions and produce the mass frenzy that leads not only to irrational support for good causes, but also for causes evil and dangerous. I have always suspected and distrusted those who could arouse the masses by working on their emotions, turning favor into frenzy, support into hysteria, and normally rational human beings into howling mobs. . . . But the exaggerated appeal to fanaticism, to a false and deceptive hope, or to a vision which cannot possibly be realized can result only in disillusionment -- this kind of thing, so common in today's politics, I have always disliked and distrusted, almost as much as I have abhorred the marketing of politicians and policies as though they were detergents or deodorants. (1972)

There can be no enduring and creative peace if people are unfree. The instinct for personal and national freedom cannot be destroyed, and the attempt to do so by totalitarian and despotic governments will ultimately make not only for internal trouble but for international conflict. (1957)