Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, Diplomat
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate was Canada’s Prime Minister
Pearson was born April 23, 1897 in Newtonbrook, Ontario (now part of Toronto). His parents were Methodist Minister Edwin Arthur Pearson and Anne Sarah Bowles. The itinerant nature of his father’s position caused the family of three boys to move frequently.
Lester Bowles Pearson Renamed Mike
Lester Pearson entered Victoria University at the University of Toronto (U. of T.) at age sixteen. He served overseas during World War I, first as under-aged volunteer, later commissioned with the Royal Flying Corps. He was given the name Mike while serving in England.
Invalided home, the excellent student graduated from university in 1919. With a two-year fellowship, he studied in the Honours School of Modern History at Oxford University beginning in 1921. He accepted a teaching position in the University of Toronto history department in 1923 where he was later promoted to assistant professor.
On August 22, 1925 he married Maryon Elspeth Moody in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They had two children, Geoffrey and Patricia. In his memoirs, Pearson stated, “Without her love and help, her cheerful and wise acceptance of more than half the burden of our partnership, I would never have reached a position where I would be writing this story.” Often quoted, Maryon Pearson said, “Behind every successful man, there stands a surprised woman.”
Lester Bowles Mike Pearson Diplomatic Career
In 1928 Pearson placed first in examinations to qualify for a permanent appointment in Canada’s Department of External Affairs. From 1928 until 1935 he was involved in world diplomatic efforts that included the Geneva World Disarmament Conference and sessions of the League of Nations. During the years 1935 to 1941 he served in London, England in the office of the Canadian High Commissioner.
He was Canadian Ambassador to the United States from January 1945 until September 1946. Preliminary discussions and eventual establishment of the United Nations were of great interest and activity for him.
Lester Bowles Mike Pearson Minister of External Affairs
Pearson was elected to the Algoma East Liberal federal seat in 1946. Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent named him Undersecretary of State for External Affairs. In 1948 Pearson was named Secretary of State for External Affairs, the post he held for nine years. His responsibilities and involvements were many of world-wide concern:
- …..Establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 1949
- …..Head of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations (UN) 1946 to 1956
- …..Extensive efforts to prevent war in Korea 1950
- …..President of the United Nations General Assembly 1952 to 1953
- …..Chairman of United Nations General Assembly Special Committee on Palestine 1947
Lester Bowles Mike Pearson and the 1956 Suez Crisis
In July 1956 Egypt’s President stated that he would nationalize the Suez Canal. The British, French, and Israeli governments threatened to invade Egypt. International mediation efforts failed, and the Soviet Union threatened to take action. United States naval forces maintained readiness to “execute emergency war plans”.
Lester Bowles Pearson worked night and day to find a peaceful solution. He proposed and sponsored the United Nations resolution which created a U.N. Emergency Force. It would keep the peace until political settlement could be reached. United Nations Peacekeepers led by Canadian troops moved into Egypt in November to provide a buffer between the invaders and the Egyptians. The threat gradually faded.
Pearson is considered the father of the modern concept of peacekeeping. It was important to him that the invading nations were able to withdraw without humiliation.
Lester Bowles Pearson Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
On December 11, 1957 in Oslo, Norway, Lester Bowles Pearson received the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation role in the Suez Canal crisis.
In presenting the Prize to Pearson, Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, said, “Never, since the end of the last war has the world situation been darker than during the Suez crisis, and never has the United Nations had a more difficult case to deal with.”
Chairman Jahn continued, “…it may well be said that the Suez crisis was a victory for the United Nations and for the man who contributed more than anyone else to save the world at that time. That man was Lester Pearson.”
Lester Bowles Pearson’s career took another turn within a few years.
Sources:
Mike: The Memoirs of the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Vol. 1& 2, University of Toronto Press 1972
Victoria University in the University of Toronto
Pearsons With Nobel Peace Prize
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles