Robert Stanfield was born to a wealthy businessman in Truro, Nova
Scotia. He studied law at Harvard University but became bored with this
profession & he entered politics in the thirties. He was premier of
Nova Scotia from 1956 to 1967, the year he succeeded John Diefenbaker
as leader of the Progressive Conservative party - a post that he held
until 1976. He ran twice for Prime Minister but was beaten both times
by Pierre Trudeau. Within his party he was called 'the best Prime
Minister that Canada never had.' He was succeeded as opposition leader
by Joe Clark. In 1971, a small plane was carrying him to a speech when
the engines failed & the plane began to plunge to earth. 'This is going
to play hell with my schedule,' quipped Mr. Stanfield before the
engines resumed. He was married three times, widowed twice. His first
wife died in a traffic accident in 1954 and his second wife passed away
from cancer in 1976. His third wife, whom he married in 1978, survived
him, as did his four children. Robert Stanfield passed away in Ottawa
in 2003.