The Last Chapter of Canadian Prime Ministers, From Macdonald to Mulroney

Canadian prime ministers from 1878 to 1963. (Top L-R) Sir John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, Sir John Abbott, Sir John Thompson, Sir MacKenzie Bowell; (Middle L-R) Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir Robert L. Borden, Arthur Meighen; (Bottom L-R) W.L. Mackenzie King, R.B. Bennett, Louis St. Laurent, John G. Diefenbaker, Lester B. Pearson. Library and Archives Canada/Public Domain

Commentary

Almost all the monarchs who have ruled over Canada since 1867 died while reigning and were succeeded by their heir apparent: “Le roi est mort. Vive le roi.” But it’s unusual for elected office-holders to die in office—only two prime ministers have done so, one very long-serving and one very short: Sir John A. Macdonald died at home in 1891, and Sir John Thompson died at lunch with Queen Victoria in Windsor Castle in 1894. A few PMs almost died in office but managed to resign first, while others had illnesses of various kinds but lived long.