Letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to C. Mortimer Bezeau, December 28, 1944

Description
Creators
King, William Lyon Mackenzie, Author
Bezeau, C. Mortimer
, Recipient
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Correspondence
Description
Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to C. Mortimer Bezeau on December 28, 1944. King thanks Bezeau for the telegram of Christmas wishes, and remarks on their long friendship.

Additional words and signature handwritten in black ink by William Lyon Mackenzie King
Notes
Watermark on page - Rolland Parchment / Made in Canada


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. 28, 1944
Dimensions
Width: 12.6 cm
Height: 20 cm
Subject(s)
King, William Lyon Mackenzie
Bezeau, C. Mortimer
Local identifier
S718_1.2.56
Collection
William Lyon Mackenzie King collection
Language of Item
English
Geographic Coverage
  • Ottawa
    Ontario, Canada
    Latitude: 45.42094 Longitude: -75.69029
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:
https://library.wlu.ca/archives

Agency street/mail address:

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

Full Text

{OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

CANADA}

Personal

Ottawa,

December 28, 1944

[handwritten] My dear Bezeau : [end handwritten]

I was delighted to receive, on Christmas Day, the telegram which came from you and to know that I had been in your thoughts on Christmas Eve. I did not reply by wire as I wished to send something more than just a word by way of acknowledgment.

Your friendship over the years has been one of the real joys of my public life. The years are passing all too quickly but I hope we may both be spared to continue [handwritten] for some time longer [end handwritten] to share the friendship we have enjoyed for so long. I do not think since 1909, you have [^handwritten] ever [^end handwritten] missed sending me more than one expression of your good-will.

Please let this letter bring to Mrs. Bezeau and yourself and all of your family, my best of wishes

for 1945.

[handwritten] Your friend [end handwritten]

[signed] W.L.Mackenzie King

C. Mortimer Bezeau, Esq.,

12 Ellen St. E.,

Kitchener, Ont.

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy