Letter from C. Mortimer Bezeau to William Lyon Mackenzie King, December 15, 1928

Description
Creators
King, William Lyon Mackenzie, Recipient
Bezeau, C. Mortimer
, Author
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Correspondence
Description
Typewritten letter from C. Mortimer Bezeau to William Lyon Mackenzie King on December 15, 1928. Bezeau sends birthday congratulations, regrets not sending flowers or fruit as usual; commends King on his recent visit to England and the continent.
Notes
William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874-1950) was Canada's longest serving Prime Minister with a total of 22 years (1921-1930 and 1935-1948). King was born in Berlin, Ontario (present day Kitchener) on December 17, 1874. He graduated from the University of Toronto and went on to study economics at Harvard and Chicago University. In 1900 King was named Canada's first Deputy Minister of Labour, and became Minister of Labour in 1909. In 1921 King was elected Prime Minster of Canada. King was a member of the Liberal Party of Parliament for over 30 years, 22 of those years were spent as Prime Minister of Canada. William Lyon Mackenzie King died on July 22, 1950 in Kingsmere, Quebec.

C. Mortimer Bezeau (1871-1964) was a politician in Kitchener, Ontario and a long-standing member of the Liberal Party. He held positions in local government in 1925-1926 and 1928, and was mayor of Kitchener from 1931-1932. Bezeau made many contributions to the 'Letter to the Editor' portions of The Globe and Mail regarding various political matters and opinions. C. Mortimer Bezeau died in 1964 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener, Ontario.

Throughout William Lyon Mackenzie King's career the two men corresponded via typed or handwritten letters and exchanged gifts.

Transcribed by Danielle Hughes in 2017.
Date of Original
Dec. 15, 1928
Dimensions
Width: 21.5 cm
Height: 28 cm
Subject(s)
Local identifier
S718_1.2.4
Collection
William Lyon Mackenzie King collection
Language of Item
English
Geographic Coverage
  • Ontario, Canada
    Latitude: 43.4501 Longitude: -80.48299
Copyright Statement
Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian law. No restrictions on use.
Recommended Citation
William Lyon Mackenzie King collection, Wilfrid Laurier University Archives & Special Collections
Reproduction Notes
S718 Disc 1
Contact
Wilfrid Laurier University Library
Email:libarch@wlu.ca
Website:
Agency street/mail address:

75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3C5

Full Text

December 15, 1928

Right Honourable W.L.M.King

Prime Minister of Canada

Laurier House,

Ottawa, Canada.

My dear Mr.King:-

By the time this reaches you the onward march of time will have brought to you another anniversary of your birthday: and may I be permitted to extend heartiest congratulations.

This summer, for the first time in twenty years, I was deprived of the pleasure of “Saying it with Flowers.” My best flowers were gone when you returned from Europe; and the wind played havoc with my fruit about the time it was ready to pick. This was indeed a disappointment to me and to the members of my family as we eagerly look forward to the time when we will have the pleasure of giving this slight expression of the high esteem in which you are held by all the members of my household.

I watched with a great deal of interest and pleasure the splendid manner in which you represented Canada during your recent visit to England and the Continent. I was very sorry not to be able to be present in person and share with the many thousands that gathered to do honour to you the joy of welcoming you back to Canada.

Mrs. Bezeau and family join with me in wishing you many happy returns of the day; and we hope that the country may be blessed with many more years of your service as Prime Minister.

Your sincere friend,

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