Andrew Bonar Law | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Andrew Bonar Law

Andrew Bonar Law, statesman, prime minister of Great Britain (b at Kingston, NB 16 Sept 1858; d at London, Eng 30 Oct 1923). The only colonial to become prime minister of Great Britain, Law grew up in simple surroundings, until at 12 he was sent to live with affluent relatives in Scotland.

Law, Andrew Bonar

Andrew Bonar Law, statesman, prime minister of Great Britain (b at Kingston, NB 16 Sept 1858; d at London, Eng 30 Oct 1923). The only colonial to become prime minister of Great Britain, Law grew up in simple surroundings, until at 12 he was sent to live with affluent relatives in Scotland. At 16 he joined the family banking firm and became a prominent iron merchant. He entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1900. Champion of the Imperial Preference and an opponent of Irish Home Rule and socialism, Law was wartime chancellor of the exchequer. In October 1922 he became PM but served only 209 days before retiring because of poor health. He was a close friend of Max Aitken.