Bennett, Richard Bedford

Bennett, Richard Bedford, 1st Viscount Bennett (1870-1947), Canadian politician, prime minister of Canada (1930-1935) born in Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, and educated at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia). He practised law in Alberta and became active in political life in western Canada. In 1911 he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the member from Calgary. He later held a number of political offices, becoming leader of the Conservative party in 1927. When the Conservatives came to power in the 1930 election, Bennett became prime minister. He was immediately faced with the tremendous economic problems of the Great Depression (1929-1933).

His administration tried but failed to aid farmers and unemployed workers. New programmes were needed to stimulate the economy, but vacillation and dissension in the party made any such measures ineffective. Bennett's government did, however, institute workers' compensation and minimum wage laws. The party was defeated in the general election of 1935. Bennett remained the leader of the Conservatives until 1938, and retired from politics the following year. He later moved to Great Britain, and was given the peerage of Calgary, Mickleham, and Hopewell in 1941.