Charles Power
Charles Gavan Power, commonly known as Chubby, was a prominent Canadian politician born on January 18, 1888, in Sillery, Quebec. The son of a former member of Parliament, he had a noteworthy early life, including a stint as an ice hockey player for the Quebec Bulldogs and the Ottawa Silver Seven while pursuing law studies. His military service during World War I was significant; he was wounded at the Battle of the Somme and awarded the Military Cross for bravery. Power entered politics in 1917 as a Laurier Liberal, representing his father's former seat and achieving an impressive record by winning ten consecutive elections until 1955.
During his lengthy political career, Power held several key cabinet positions, notably serving as minister of national defense for air during World War II, where he focused on the welfare of Canadian pilots. His tenure was marked by his strong stance against conscription, particularly concerning its impact on the francophone community. After retiring from the House of Commons, he was appointed to the Senate, where he served until his death in 1968. In addition to his public service, Power authored his autobiography, "A Party Politician," in 1966. He was also honored with an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Saskatchewan.
Subject Terms
Charles Power
Politician
- Born: January 18, 1888
- Birthplace: Sillery, Quebec
- Died: May 30, 1968
- Place of death: Quebec
Contribution: Charles Power was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served in the House of Commons from 1917 to 1955, making him one of the longest-serving legislators in Canadian history. Power held several ministerial posts, including minister of national defense for air and minister of pensions and national health. He is most remembered for his resignation from the cabinet in opposition to conscription during World War II.
Early Life and Education
Charles Gavan Power, also known as Chubby, was born on January 18, 1888, in Sillery, Quebec. He was the son of Susan Winifred Rockett and William Power, a member of Parliament for Quebec until 1917. As a young man, Power played ice hockey for the Quebec Bulldogs in the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association; he later played in the National Hockey Association with the Ottawa Silver Seven while studying law at Loyola College and Laval University.
While serving in World War I, Power was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Somme in France. He later received the Military Cross for gallantry.
Political Career
After returning from the war to recuperate from his injuries, Power ran for Parliament in 1917. He was elected to his father’s seat as a Laurier Liberal, a member of a group within the Liberal Party that had formed around opposition to conscription in World War I. Power went on to win ten consecutive elections, holding office until 1955.
During this time, he held three cabinet positions in the government of Canadian prime minister W. L. Mackenzie King, serving as minister for pensions and national health from 1935 to 1939 and then as postmaster general from 1939 to 1940. Power’s most significant contribution to public service, however, came during World War II, when he served as minister of national defense for air. Power was in charge of protecting the interests of Canadian pilots serving under British command in the European theater of war. His outspoken opposition to conscription for overseas service and his fear that the draft would generate resentment among the francophone population he represented led him to resign from this post in 1944.
In 1955, Power retired from the House of Commons and was appointed to the Senate, where he served until his death in 1968. He received an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1966.
Personal Life
Power married Rosemary Pendleton on September 18, 1912; they had a daughter and two sons. Power published his autobiography, A Party Politician, in 1966. He died on May 30, 1968, in Quebec.
Bibliography
Careless, J. M. S. Canada: A Story of Challenge. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.
Conrad, Margaret. A Concise History of Canada. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.
Levine, Allan. King: William Lyon Mackenzie King; A Life Guided by the Hand of Destiny. Vancouver: Douglas, 2011. Print.
Power, Charles Gavan, and Norman Ward. A Party Politician: The Memoirs of Chubby Power. Toronto: Macmillan, 1966. Print.
“Power, the Hon. Charles Gavan.” Library of Parliament. Parliament of Canada, n.d. Web. 30 July 2013.