Meighen, Arthur (1874-1960)

Canadian Conservative politician. He was prime minister 1920-21 and 1926-27. Between 1913 and 1920 he successively held the posts of solicitor general, secretary of state, and minister of the interior.

In 1920 he succeeded Robert Borden as Conservative leader and premier, but lost the 1921 general election to Mackenzie King and the Liberals, and also lost his seat. King formed a coalition with the Progressives that lasted until June 1926. Meighen then accepted a commission from the governor general to form a government; this developed into a constitutional crisis, leading to Meighen's defeat. Richard Bennett succeeded him as Conservative leader in 1927. In 1942 Meighen resigned his senatorship to resume the leadership of the Conservative Party, but failed to win a seat.

Meighen was born in Anderson, Perth County, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, went west to Portage la Prairie to practise law in 1903, and entered politics. He was elected member of parliament for Portage in 1908. In the conscription crisis of 1917 (during World War I), he earned the hatred of Québec for his part in the Military Service Act, which was strongly opposed in that province. In 1918 he attended the Imperial Conference.