Letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to C. Mortimer Bezeau, October 8, 1949

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 October 8, 1949. King thanks Bezeau for the box of russet pears and reminisces on their friendship. King hopes he will have a chance to visit his home town.

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
Oct. 8, 1949
Dimensions
Width: 20.4 cm
Height: 25.3 cm
Subject(s)
Pears
King, William Lyon Mackenzie
Bezeau, C. Mortimer
Local identifier
S718_1.2.82
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

{LAURIER HOUSE,

OTTAWA.}

October 8, 1949

My dear Bezeau:

How very kind of you to send me the box of delicious russet pears which arrived a few days ago! I hesitate to count the years since the first of similar gifts was received from you.

Your expressions of friendship all along the way were one of the real pleasures of my public life. I need scarcely say that this expression of your abiding friendship is, if possible, the more deeply valued now that I am living in retirement.

I hope that you and your family are all well. I hope it may not be long before I shall have a chance of visiting again my old home-town. In this event, I shall hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again and of recounting some of the experiences of past years.

[handwritten] Again with my warmest wishes, and all kind remembrances. [end handwritten]

Yours sincerely,

[signed] W.L.Mackenzie King

C. Mortimer Bezeau, Esq. ,

12 Ellen St. E.,

Kitchener, Ont.

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