Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield was a significant Canadian political figure, born on April 11, 1914, in Truro, Nova Scotia, into a family with strong industrial and political roots. He graduated from Dalhousie University and Harvard Law School before beginning his career as an attorney. Stanfield's political journey began in earnest when he became president of the provincial Progressive Conservative Association in 1947, leading to his election to the Colchester County legislature in 1949. In 1956, he became Nova Scotia’s youngest premier at just 41 years old, ending over two decades of Liberal governance and serving four successful terms. His tenure was marked by modernization efforts in education and healthcare, as well as attracting investment to the province.
After stepping down from provincial politics in 1967, Stanfield represented Halifax in the House of Commons from 1968 to 1979 and served as the Conservative party leader, notably challenging Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in several elections. Despite his political contributions, a memorable moment from his campaigns involved an awkward encounter with a football that garnered significant media attention and was perceived as detrimental to his electoral success. Post-retirement, Stanfield chaired the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Commonwealth Foundation. He passed away on December 16, 2003, at the age of 89, and was posthumously honored when Halifax International Airport was renamed in his memory in 2007.
Subject Terms
Robert Stanfield
Politician
- Born: April 11, 1914
- Died: December 16, 2003
Contribution: Robert Stanfield was a moderate conservative who served as premier of the province of Nova Scotia from 1956 to 1967. Though he attempted to unseat the highly popular prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, three successive times, he was never successful in this endeavor. He remained the national opposition leader until 1976. Stanfield is one of few Canadians ever to receive the honorific of Right Honourable.
Background and Early Career
Robert Lorne Stanfield was born into a prominent industrial and political family on April 11, 1914, in Truro, Nova Scotia. After earning an undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University, he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1939 and began to practice as an attorney. Stanfield became a member of the Halifax staff of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board in 1939, serving until 1945. Two years later, he assumed the presidency of the provincial Progressive Conservative Association, a political party that, at the time, held no seats in the government. In 1949, he was elected to the Colchester County legislature.
Political Career
In 1956, Stanfield led Nova Scotia’s Tories to electoral victory, becoming the country’s youngest premier at age forty-one. His victory ended twenty-three consecutive years of Liberal power. A popular four-term premier, Stanfield also served as provincial treasurer and minister of education. He worked to modernize Nova Scotia’s education and health care systems as well as bringing new investments to the province. He resigned from provincial politics in 1967, after which he served as a member of Parliament for Halifax from 1968 to 1979.
As head of the Conservative party in the House of Commons, he was critical of Prime Minister Trudeau’s economic policies and unsuccessfully challenged Trudeau in 1968, 1972, and 1974. During his final election campaign tour, Stanfield was caught on camera by photographer Doug Ball awkwardly fumbling a football at a stopover in North Bay, Ontario. This unflattering photo, which later won a National Newspaper Award, was considered by many to be influential in Stanfield’s third loss at the polls.
Stanfield stayed in the House of Commons until 1976 and remained a member of Parliament until 1979. Following his retirement from politics, Stanfield served as chair of the Institute for Research on Public Policy from 1983 to 1987 and as the first Canadian chair of the Commonwealth Foundation from 1986 to 1991.
Personal Life
Stanfield had four children with his first wife, Joyce Frazee, who was killed in a 1954 car accident. Mary Hall, his second wife, died in 1977, and Stanfield married Anne Henderson Austin of Toronto the following year. He died at the age of eighty-nine on December 16, 2003. In 2007, Halifax International Airport was renamed in his honour.
Bibliography
Campbell, Drew. “The Party The Stanfield Rebuilt.” Quorum Review. 1.3 (2003): n. page. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
“Halifax Airport Renamed in Honor of Stanfield.” Ctvnews.ca. CTV Television Network, 9 Feb. 2007. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
“Robert Stanfield: 1914–2003.” Cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 17 Dec. 2003. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
“Robert Stanfield Fumbles.” Iconic Photos. WordPress, n. d. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
Saxon, Wolfgang. “Robert Stanfield, 89, a Tory Who Lost Twice to Trudeau, Dies.” New York Times. New York Times Co., 19 Dec. 2003. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.