Alvin Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alvin Hamilton
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| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office October 11, 1960 – April 22, 1963 |
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| Prime Minister | John Diefenbaker |
| Preceded by | Douglas Harkness |
| Succeeded by | Harry Hays |
| Member of Parliament for Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain |
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| In office October 30, 1972 – November 20, 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Southam |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Qu'Appelle |
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| In office June 10, 1957 – June 24, 1968 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Mang |
| Succeeded by | Riding dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francis Alvin George Hamilton
March 30, 1912 Kenora, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | June 29, 2004 (aged 92) Manotick, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Education | University of Saskatchewan |
| Occupation | Soldier, politician |
Francis Alvin George Hamilton (March 30, 1912 – June 29, 2004) was an important Canadian politician. He was a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan before he became a member of the House of Commons of Canada in 1957. This was the same year the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada came to power under John Diefenbaker. Alvin Hamilton served as the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources from 1957 to 1960. He also worked as the Minister of Agriculture from 1960 to 1963, where he helped sell a lot of wheat to China.
Contents
Alvin Hamilton's Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Alvin Hamilton was born in Kenora, Ontario. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938.
Serving in World War II
During World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He worked as a navigator and reached the rank of flight lieutenant. He was recognized for his service and received the Burma Star Decoration.
Entering Politics
After the war, Alvin Hamilton tried several times to become a member of the House of Commons of Canada. He finally won an election in 1957 for the area called Qu'Appelle. He was re-elected four more times in that area. Later, he was elected again in 1972 for the Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain area and won four more times there. He stopped working in politics in 1988.
Important Roles in Government
From 1957 to 1960, Hamilton was the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources. In this role, he worked on new ideas to help develop Canada's northern regions.
After that, from 1960 to 1963, he became the Minister of Agriculture. This was a very important time because he started selling Canadian wheat to the People's Republic of China. This was a big deal for Canada's farmers.
In 1967, he tried to become the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, but he did not win.
Special Honour
In 1992, Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, gave Alvin Hamilton a special title: "The Right Honourable". This is a very rare honour for someone who was not a Prime Minister of Canada, Chief Justice of Canada, or Governor General of Canada. It showed how much his service to Canada was valued.
Later Life and Legacy
After he retired from politics in 1988, Alvin Hamilton lived in Manotick, Ontario. He passed away in 2004. To remember his contributions, a government building in Regina, Saskatchewan, was named the Francis Alvin George Hamilton Building in 2007. Also, a room at the Embassy of Canada in Beijing, China, is called the Alvin Hamilton Room.
