Lester Bowles Pearson

Born Apr. 23, 1897, in Toronto; died Dec. 27, 1972, in Ottawa. Canadian statesman. Member of the Liberal Party.

Pearson was educated at the University of Toronto and at Oxford University. From 1928 to 1948 he was in the diplomatic service. In 1948 he became a member of Parliament and from 1948 to 1957 served as secretary of state for external affairs. From 1958 to 1968, Pearson was leader of the Liberal Party, and from 1963 to 1968 he served as prime minister. In 1963 the Pearson administration concluded an agreement with the USA whereby Canadian armed forces were to be supplied with American nuclear weapons and American nuclear weapons were to be placed on Canadian territory. At the same time, it was the first Canadian administration to impose additional taxation on the income of firms that were controlled by foreign capital.