ON THIS DAY

October 11, 1911

Conservative Robert Borden became Canada’s eighth prime minister, ending Wilfrid Laurier’s 15-year tenure. Borden was the last prime minister born before Confederation. He led Canada during the First World War, and his government was responsible for the War Measures Act and the first measures of direct taxation by Ottawa. Borden won a bitterly contested election in 1917 that largely revolved around conscription. He retired in 1920.