Robert Stanfield(1914-2003)

Robert Stanfield was born to a wealthy businessman in Truro, Nova Scotia. He studied law at Harvard University but became bored with this profession & he entered politics in the thirties. He was premier of Nova Scotia from 1956 to 1967, the year he succeeded John Diefenbaker as leader of the Progressive Conservative party - a post that he held until 1976. He ran twice for Prime Minister but was beaten both times by Pierre Trudeau. Within his party he was called 'the best Prime Minister that Canada never had.' He was succeeded as opposition leader by Joe Clark. In 1971, a small plane was carrying him to a speech when the engines failed & the plane began to plunge to earth. 'This is going to play hell with my schedule,' quipped Mr. Stanfield before the engines resumed. He was married three times, widowed twice. His first wife died in a traffic accident in 1954 and his second wife passed away from cancer in 1976. His third wife, whom he married in 1978, survived him, as did his four children. Robert Stanfield passed away in Ottawa in 2003.