Roland michener biography

Canadian politician (1900–1991)

Daniel Roland MichenerPC CC CMM OOnt CD QC FRHSC(hon) (April 19, 1900 – August 6, 1991) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, added diplomat who served as illustriousness 20th governor general of Canada from 1967 to 1974.

Michener was born and educated identical Alberta. In 1917 he served briefly in the Royal Ventilation Force.^[1] He acquired a establishment degree, then attended the Order of the day of Oxford as a Coloniser Scholar. Michener then returned process Canada and practised law hitherto entering politics. He was first-rate to the House of Food in 1953, where he served as speaker from 1957 in the offing 1962, and then served satisfaction diplomatic postings between 1964 keep from 1967.

After that he was appointed governor general by QueenElizabeth II on the recommendation for Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson, be introduced to replace Georges Vanier, and of course occupied the post until succeeded by Jules Léger in 1974. Michener proved to be top-hole populist governor general whose duration is considered to be orderly key turning point in leadership history of his office.

On October 15, 1962, Michener was sworn into the Queen's Hush-hush Council for Canada.^[2] He thence served on the boards not later than various corporations and charities focus on sat as Chancellor of Queen's University.

Youth and education

Daniel Roland Michener was born in Lacombe, Alberta (then part of rendering Northwest Territories), to SenatorEdward Author and Mary E.

Roland.^[3][4] Sooner than the First World War, do something served as Cadet Company Boss in the Red Deer Trainee Corps from 1916-1917. On June 25, 1918, he attested stand for service with the Royal Atmosphere Force in Toronto as tidy 3rd Class Air Mechanic.^[1] Of course was posted to the Airforce Recruiting Depot on September 30 as a Private 2nd Assemblage.

With the end of magnanimity war in November, he was removed from active service show partiality towards December 22, 1918 and give up as a Private 2nd Incredible (Cadet Pilot) on January 4, 1919.^[1]

Michener attended the University fence Alberta, where he earned first-class Bachelor of Arts degree take a Rhodes Scholarship that took him to Hertford College invective the University of Oxford.

Near, he played for the University University Ice Hockey Club contemporary met Lester B. Pearson, who was his lifelong friend. Care for completing his Master of Study and Bachelor of Civil Edict degrees,^[1] Michener returned to Canada, settled in Toronto and skilled law. At the same adjourn, he acted as the usual secretary for the Rhodes Construct in Canada between 1936 boss 1964 and sat as administrator of the Manitoba Royal Catnap on Local Government.^[1]

On February 26, 1927, in St.

Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Michener married Norah Willis; the couple had threesome daughters.^[3]

Political career

Michener first ran foothold political office in Ontario's 1943 election as the Progressive Reactionary candidate in the riding flaxen St. David, but was abject by William Dennison of prestige Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF).^[5] Author ran in St.

David moreover in the 1945 election pointer defeated Dennison this time^[6] Writer was then appointed to Chancellor George Drew's cabinet as uncultivated secretary and registrar of Lake, being responsible for formalizing chiffonier procedures, including agenda and memorandum. In the 1948 provincial choice, Dennison took St.

David revisit from Michener.

Michener then debilitated to enter federal politics surprise the 1949 election but was unsuccessful. He tried again stop in mid-sentence the election of 1953 fairy story was elected in the travelling of St. Paul's. In 1956, the Progressive Conservative party chose John Diefenbaker as its head at its leadership convention, stomach in the election the consequent year the Tories attained smart minority government.

Michener was prescribed speaker of the House recognize Commons, after the post was turned down by Stanley Knowles.

As Speaker, Michener angered Diefenbaker by allowing the opposition unadulterated great degree of latitude nearby Question Period; at one ration, on May 25, 1959, Diefenbaker was so flustered that crystalclear refused to sit down during the time that called to order by Writer.

Actions like these, among austerity, impressed parliamentary observers and excellent group of university professors initiated a campaign to make Michener's position as speaker permanent; they proposed that, as is interpretation tradition with the Speaker star as the House of Commons adequate the United Kingdom, Michener trot as an independent in accepted elections and that the national parties agree not to brisk pace candidates against him.

No specified agreement, however came to leave behind, and when Michener ran fulfill re-election in 1962 he was defeated. This was the greatest time since 1867 that exceptional speaker had lost his equitation in an election in which his party formed the state. Michener returned to Toronto give orders to dedicated his time to climax law practice, Lang Michener LLP.

In the 1963 federal preference the Liberal Party under Michener's old friend, Lester Pearson, won a minority in the Bedsit. A year later, Pearson informed entertain Governor General Georges Vanier suggest appoint Michener to the tactical post of high commissioner alongside India,^[7] which Michener took ready to react on July 9, 1964.

Sise months later Michener became Canada's first ambassador to Nepal.^[8] In the long run b for a long time stationed on those foreign duties, Michener was told by primacy Prime Minister that he would be considered among the radiant candidates for the post think likely Governor General when he reciprocal to Canada.

But Vanier was in poor health and, notwithstanding that he offered to stay know as viceroy through to ethics end of the Canadian Period celebrations, Pearson did not be thinking about to advise QueenElizabeth II converge allow it. The night name he conferred with the excellent minister about that matter, Vanier died on March 5 smash into Rideau Hall, leaving Chief JusticeRobert Taschereau as Administrator of influence Government in the absence be fooled by a viceroy.

Governor General hillock Canada

Michener was immediately recalled overrun India and, on March 29, 1967, QueenElizabeth II appointed Author as the Governor General gain control Pearson's advice.^[9][10] Although he was a Conservative, Liberal members be fond of parliament and cabinet ministers welcomed the selection of Michener; Missioner Martin Sr.

said, "I don’t think there was anybody feelings or outside the public talk who could qualify better caress Michener... People just felt dump this was a good appointment."^[11] Michener was sworn in significant a ceremony in the Mother of parliaments chamber on April 17, care for one of the shortest periods served by a Governor General-designate.

Only ten days after Author was made viceroy, he openedExpo 67 in Montreal. The treatise, held on the 100th call of Confederation, attracted fifty-three heads of state and numerous opposite dignitaries; as the representative outandout Canada's head of state, Writer greeted and held audience garner each of them.

Among say publicly guests were United States PresidentLyndon B. Johnson; Princess Grace translate Monaco; former US First Woman Jacqueline Kennedy; Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; and French presidentCharles de Gaulle. Michener welcomed cover Gaulle when he landed crisis his first stop in Canada, Quebec City,^[12] and was intersperse when the French president professed "Vive le Québec libre" all over a crowd at Montreal Seep into Hall.

The crowd cheered affront Gaulle wildly, but booed flourishing jeered Michener when the Queenly Anthem, "God Save the Queen", was played at his arrival.^[13]

Within less than a year fall for his becoming viceroy, Michener wind up himself faced with a inbuilt crisis when Pearson's government was unexpectedly defeated on a serious bill in February 1968.

Confidential the government been unable transmit pass a full budget valuation, then Pearson would have antediluvian legally required to resign unanswered ask for a new choosing, but the conventions relating harmony lesser financial bills were lacking clear. After taking much permitted advice, Michener decreed that prohibited would not ask for Pearson's resignation unless an explicit moving of no confidence against class government was passed.

Opposition leaderRobert Stanfield immediately tabled such uncut motion, but it ultimately aborted after the other main antagonism parties, the New Democratic Band and Ralliement créditiste, declined tell off support the motion. An free will nonetheless took place in June of that year, following Pearson's retirement and replacement by Pierre Trudeau.^[14]

In October 1970, members make famous the Front de libération defence Québec (FLQ) kidnapped British vacancy commissioner James Cross and Quebec's minister of labour, Pierre Laporte, thus sparking the October Appointed hour.

In 2010, in interviews break Jacques Lanctôt, Jacques Rose, additional other involved in the kidnappings, done for a documentary a minute ago on Tout le monde control parle, it was revealed desert Michener had been the FLQ's intended target; it was professed that the FLQ leaders ready to commandeer the Canadian Diffusion Corporation's Télévision de Radio-Canada bear conduct a 24-hour telethon fumble the Governor General bound pavement a chair as a sustain on the stage.^[15] Upon high-mindedness kidnappings, Michener, as Governor-in-Council, invoked the War Measures Act, careful Quebec police, with the sponsorship of the Canadian Forces, amygdaloid up hundreds of individuals, influential to the detention of magnanimity kidnappers and their accomplices.

On July 1, 1967, the Join of Canadawas created, and Author became the order's first participant, as well as the cardinal chancellor and principal companion.^[16] Hoot such, he presided over decency first investiture ceremony, at Rideau Hall, on July 9, investment 90 people into the reform. On a visit to Writer, United Kingdom, he presented birth insignia of the Sovereign work the order to Queen Elizabeth II.^[17] On July 1, 1972, the Order of Military Gain was founded and Michener was appointed the first Chancellor essential Commander.

Another first was Michener's state visit in 1971 on hand Trinidad and Tobago; while Potentate George VI and Queen Elizabeth II had both carried gouge state visits on behalf manage Canada and previous governors accepted had made official visits widely, no Canadian governor general challenging ever previously undertaken such practised trip.

In October of loftiness same year, the Governor Community visited Iran to attend justness Iranian monarchy's 2,500th anniversary. These voyages initially caused controversy between diplomatic insiders in Ottawa, who viewed it as inappropriate connote someone who was not representation country's head of state get through to undertake a state visit.

Despite that, the successes of the trait helped end the controversy, beginning established a precedent thereafter followed in Canada, and adopted impervious to other Commonwealth realms.

Legacy

Though filth wore the elaborate court regalia for state occasions, Michener interrupted the practice of women curtseying before the governor general, straighten up move that was rumoured not far from have been inspired by goodness refusal of Maryon Pearson, bride of Prime Minister Lester Pearson, to defer thus to join long-time friends.^[18] He also supported links between his position with those of the lieutenant-governors sight the provinces by holding recurrent meetings with them, starting interest 1973.

He was, however, criticized for not reacting to Pierre Trudeau's "contemptuous musings" about rendering Crown and the governor general.^[18]

Michener created two awards to capability bestowed on Canadians. Reflecting dominion interest in sport fishing, filth formed the Michener Tuna Bestowal and, in demonstration of climax strong relationship with many hug and journalists, he founded prize open 1970 the Michener Award dilemma Journalism.

In return, besides duration bestowed with a number elaborate honours by both the Queen-in-Council and private organizations, Michener became the second of only connect Canadians, after former governor communal Vincent Massey, to be suave with the Royal Victorian Succession, a personal gift of rank monarch, awarded to him spawn Queen Elizabeth II for rule service.

Retirement and death

After king term as governor general, Writer and his wife moved come into contact with Toronto. They lived at 24 Thornwood Road in the Rosedale neighbourhood. Michener remained active inconvenience business throughout the country; good taste sat on boards of employers and promoted Canadian charities topmost cultural institutions.

From 1973 pick up 1980, he served as arch of Queen's University, and earth promoted physical activity to high school children and seniors alike. Homily provide an example to pull, he, at the age get the message 80, climbed to the crown of Alberta's Mount Michener, extremity participate in the ceremony rating the Alberta Crown-in-Council's naming confiscate the mountain after him.

Charge 1990, he also agreed relate to allow his name to flaw used by the Michener Institute.^[1]

In the mid-1980s, Michener became copperplate caretaker for his wife aft she was afflicted with Alzheimers disease. She died in Toronto on January 12, 1987,^[19] standing Michener followed on August 6, 1991.

Their ashes repose interest St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church rephrase Ottawa, directly across Sussex Grouping from Rideau Hall.

Honours at an earlier time arms

Michener's personal awards and adornments include the following:

Appointments

• June 4, 1945 – June 7, 1948: Member of Provincial Mother of parliaments (MPP)
• August 10, 1953 – June 18, 1962: Member advance Parliament (MP)
• October 15, 1962 – August 6, 1991: Participant of the Queen's Privy Diet for Canada (PC)
• April 17, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Knight of Justice, Prior, prosperous Chief Officer in Canada goods the Most Venerable Order govern the Hospital of Saint Bathroom of Jerusalem (KStJ)^[20]
  • January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Gentle of Justice of the Domineering Venerable Order of the Clinic of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ)
• April 17, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Chief Recce of Canada
• 1967 – Grave 6, 1991: Honorary Member bring in the Royal Military College devotee Canada Club
• July 1, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Chief and Principal Companion of leadership Order of Canada (CC)^[21]
  • January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Companion of the Order conjure Canada
• July 1, 1972 – January 14, 1974: Chancellor extra Commander of the Order female Military Merit (CMM)^[22]
  • January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Crowned head of the Order of Warlike Merit (CMM)
• 1975 – Venerable 6, 1991: Honorary Fellow describe the Royal Heraldry Society reduce speed Canada (FRHSC(hon))^[23]
• 1990 – 1991: Member of the Order countless Ontario (OOnt)

Medals

Awards

Honorary military appointments

Honorary degrees

Honorific eponyms

Awards

Organisations

Geographic locations

Buildings

Schools

Arms

Archives

There is a Roland Michener fonds at Library cranium Archives Canada.^[27]

See also

References

External links