- Wishart McLea Robertson
Wishart McLea Robertson, PC (
February 15 1891 –August 16 1967 ) was a politician inNova Scotia ,Canada .Robertson's paternal grandfather was a member of
Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1854 until 1878. His father, Thomas Robertson was also a member of the provincial legislature, as well as serving as a LiberalMember of Parliament (MP) from 1882 to 1887.Wishart Robertson was educated in a Nova Scotia high school. He moved to
Brooklyn ,United States , to enter business, but returned to Canada in 1916 to join the 219th Battalion and then the 85th Battalion of theCanadian Expeditionary Force as a lieutenant. In 1918, he returned to Canada followingWorld War I , and entered theautomobile industry . He eventually became president and manager of Argyle Motor Services Ltd. and ofRobertson Motors Ltd. of Halifax, Nova Scotia.In 1928, he was elected to the provincial legislature, representing the riding previously held by his father and grandfather before him had represented. He did not run for re-election in 1933. In 1943, he was elected President of the National Liberal Federation of Canada, and was appointed to the
Canadian Senate onFebruary 19 of that year.Senator Robertson was appointed to the cabinet as
Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate andminister without portfolio in 1945. He served as a delegate to theGeneral Assembly of the United Nations in 1946. He was active in the civil section of theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and helped establish international parliamentary groups to help set out the political, economic and social goals of NATO.Robertson was appointed
Speaker of the Canadian Senate in 1953. He continued his efforts with NATO, and formed the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association in 1954 with himself as president. He encouraged the formation of similar associations in other countries. He won the 1954Atlantic Award for outstanding service to the NATO community for his efforts that ultimately led to the formation of the NATO International Parliamentary Association in July 1955. Senator Robertson was Chairman of the founding conference, and was elected Honorary Life President of the international association.Robertson's term as the Senate's speaker ended with the defeat of the Liberal government in the 1957 election. Robertson remained a Senator until his resignation in 1965 due to ill health.
External links
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=2343&s=M Political Biography from the Library of Parliament]
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