Diefenbaker, John G

Diefenbaker, John G(eorge)

(born Sept. 18, 1895, Grey county, Ont., Can.—died Aug. 16, 1979, Ottawa) Prime minister of Canada (1957–63). After serving in World War I, he practiced law in Saskatchewan. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1940. He became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1956 and served as prime minister from 1957 to 1963, when his party lost its majority in the House of Commons. He resigned as party leader in 1967. He was chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan from 1969 until his death.