Francis Alvin George Hamilton
|
|
The Right Honourable Francis Alvin George Hamilton, PC (March 30, 1912-2004) was a Canadian politician. Hamilton led the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan from 1949 until he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1957 general election. This election brought the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to power under John George Diefenbaker.
Hamilton served as Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources in the Diefenbaker cabinet from 1957 to 1960, supporting a new vision of northern development. From 1960 to the 1963 election, when the Diefenbaker government was defeated, Hamilton served as Minister of Agriculture, pioneering wheat sales to the People's Republic of China.
He was a candidate at the 1967 PC leadership convention, making it to the fourth ballot before dropping out.
Hamilton remained an MP for a further twenty years until his retirement in 1988. In 1992, he was bestowed the title Right Honourable by Queen Elizabeth II in honour of his service to Canada. This is a rare honour for someone who did not serve as Prime Minister of Canada, Chief Justice of Canada or Governor General.