William Stevens Fielding

William Stevens Fielding, PC (November 24, 1848 – June 23, 1929) was a Canadian journalist, politician, and Premier of Nova Scotia.

Early life

He was born in Halifax. Fielding became leader of the anti-confederation Nova Scotia Liberal Party. In 1884, he became Premier and won the 1886 election on a pledge to remove Nova Scotia from confederation. When he failed to do this, he turned to economic matters including developing the coal industry.

Federal politics

In 1896, he left provincial politics to become Minister of Finance in the Liberal government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In 1910, he negotiated a reciprocity or free trade agreement with the United States which led to the government's defeat in the 1911 general election. Fielding lost his seat, and became editor of the "Daily Telegraph" of Montreal.

First World War

Fielding supported the Unionist government of Sir Robert Borden during the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and returned to the House of Commons as a Liberal-Unionist member.

Liberal leadership convention, 1919; service in Mackenzie King's first Administration

Fielding had widely been seen as Laurier's successor but his betrayal of the party over the conscription issue cost him the 1919 Liberal leadership convention where he lost to William Lyon Mackenzie King by 38 votes.

He served again as minister of finance in King's first government formed after the 1921 election.

Later life

He retired from politics in 1925.

In 1923, Fielding was sworn into the Privy Council of the United Kingdom allowing him to be styled as Right Honourable, a rare privilege among Canadian politicians who have not been Prime Minister.

He died in Ottawa.

External links

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* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=15073&s=M Political biography from the Library of Parliament]