System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Robert Lorne Stanfield, Progressive Conservative Leader
April 11, 1914 - December 16, 2003
Robert Lorne Stanfield, former leader of the Canadian federal Progressive Conservative party and premier of Nova Scotia, died Tuesday at the age of 89 years. He was born on April 11, 1914, in Truro, Nova Scotia into the Stanfield knitwear family founded by his grandfather and carried on by his father. He was tagged with the nickname "Underwear Man" when he entered politics. A spinal curvature, which gave him his round-shouldered appearance, kept him out of the Second World War, so he became a lawyer for the Wartime Prices and Trades Board In Halifax; he and a partner established a Halifax law firm in 1945.
He became president of the Nova Scotia PCs in 1947; became party leader in 1948; first elected to the legislature in Halifax riding in 1949; premier 1956-67; established Industrial Estates Ltd., a Crown corporation to promote industry and attract new business; two notable failures (Clairtone Sound Corp., and a heavy-water plant at Glace Bay).
He won the federal PC leadership in September 1967, beating then-Manitoba premier Duff Roblin on a fifth ballot; elected MP for Colchester-Hants riding in November 1967 by election; won in Halifax riding in June 1968 general election, but Pierre Trudeau Liberals formed the government; won Halifax riding again in October 1972 election and almost became prime minister as PCs took 107 ridings to the Liberals' 109; lost again to Trudeau in July 1974 and resigned as party leader in 1976; relinquished Commons seat in 1979.
After politics he became the Canadian representative to the Middle East and North Africa, July 1979-February 1980; chairman The Commonwealth Foundation, 1987-91.
He was married to Joyce Frazee from 1940 until her death in a 1954 car crash and had four children. His second wife Mary Hall died in 1977 from cancer. He was remarried to third wife Anne Henderson Austin in 1978.
