Keywords Born in 1874 Prime Ministers

Meighen succeeded Borden as PM in 1920 against the advice of most of his fellow ministers, who believed he was temperamentally unsuited and handicapped by his connection with these contentious policies. His one notable achievement in that office came at an imperial conference, where he argued successfully against the British government's plan to renew the Anglo-Japanese alliance. At home, things went from bad to worse in a situation complicated by the rise of a new political force, the PROGRESSIVE PARTY, which attracted much support in the Prairies and rural Ontario. In the general election of December 1921 his government was defeated and he became leader of the Opposition to the Liberal administration of Mackenzie KING.

During the ensuing 4 years the Conservatives made a strong recovery and in the election of October 1925 won a plurality of seats. King was able to retain office with the support of the remaining Progressives until a serious scandal in the Customs Department was exposed. Faced with a motion of censure that seemed certain to pass, King sought to have Parliament dissolved. When Governor General Viscount BYNG refused, King resigned and Meighen again took office. But his government was soon defeated in the Commons and in the resulting election, whereupon he retired as party leader and joined a Toronto investment company. In 1932 PM BENNETT appointed him to the Senate, which he reluctantly left after 9 years to resume the Conservative leadership. His attempt to re-enter the House of Commons in a 1942 by-election failed and, disillusioned with politics, he retired once again to devote himself to his business interests.

Meighen, Arthur
Meighen was unequalled as a parliamentary debater (Library and Archives Canada / C-005799)

Prime Ministers of Canada

Author ROGER GRAHAM

Suggested Reading
Roger Graham, Arthur Meighen, 3 vols (1960-65); J.L. Granatstein, The Politics of Survival (1967).

Links to Other Sites
First Among Equals
Learn about the private lives and political careers of Canada’s Prime Ministers. Includes biographies, speeches, and other historical documents. A Library and Archives Canada website.