James Armstrong Richardson

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The Honourable
James Armstrong Richardson
PC
Minister of National Defence
In office
November 27, 1972 – October 12, 1976
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byJames Drury (acting)
Succeeded byBarney Danson
Minister of Supply and Services
In office
May 5, 1969 – November 26, 1972
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byDonald Jamieson
Succeeded byJean-Pierre Goyer
Member of Parliament
for Winnipeg South
In office
1968–1979
Preceded byBud Sherman
Succeeded byriding dissolved
Personal details
BornMarch 28, 1922
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
DiedMay 17, 2004 (aged 82)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyLiberal (until 1978)
Independent (1978–1979)
Other political
affiliations		Reform (1987–2000)
Spouse(s)Shirley (m.)
RelationsAgnes Benidickson (sister)
Parent(s)James Armstrong Richardson Sr.
OccupationMember of Parliament, Canada; Cabinet Minister, politician, benefactor, grain merchant
Known forOpposition to bilingualism
Military service
Branch/serviceCanadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service1939–1945
RankPilot officer

James Armstrong Richardson Jr., PC (March 28, 1922 – May 17, 2004) was a Canadian Cabinet minister under Pierre Trudeau and a Winnipeg businessman.

Early life[]

Richardson was born on March 28, 1922, in Winnipeg, Manitoba to James Armstrong Richardson Sr. and Muriel (née) Sprague. He attended St. John's-Ravenscourt School.[1] He attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and earned a B.A. in political science and economics.[2]

World War II[]

After university, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served as an anti-submarine pilot based in Iceland and Labrador during World War II. He finished his war service with the rank of pilot officer. For his service, he was awarded the following: War Medal 1939–1945, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, the 1939–1945 Star, and the Atlantic Star.[3]

Business pursuits[]

Following the war, Richardson joined the family owned grain company, James Richardson and Sons, and became Chief Executive Officer and chairman in 1966.

Politics[]

He left the company to enter politics, winning a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1968 election as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South. Richardson defeated future provincial cabinet minister Bud Sherman, his Progressive Conservative opponent.

Richardson was appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as a minister without portfolio on July 6, 1968. He also served as acting Minister of Transport for five days in early 1969, and was promoted to Minister of Supply and Services on May 5 of the same year. From November 27, 1972, until October 12, 1976, he was Minister of National Defence.[3][4]

Richardson was re-elected in the 1972 election. In the 1974 election, he defeated future Premier of Manitoba Sterling Lyon by only 1,266 votes.

Resignation from Trudeau cabinet[]

He resigned from Cabinet in 1976 to protest the government's implementation of official bilingualism and its proposed entrenchment in the constitution.[4] In 1978, he left the Liberal caucus entirely and crossed the floor to sit as an Independent MP for the remainder of his term. He unsuccessfully attempted to form a new political party, the ,[5] but that floundered and he was not a candidate in the 1979 election. Richardson endorsed Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative Party in the 1980 federal election.[4]

Post-political life[]

After leaving elected politics, Richardson helped found the and served on a number of corporate boards. He also created James Richardson International, the successor company to James Richardson & Sons.[4]

In 1987, Richardson announced his support for the newly created Reform Party of Canada. He was the brother of Agnes Benidickson, former Chancellor of Queen's University and brother-in-law of former Liberal MP and Cabinet minister William Moore Benidickson.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Memorable Manitobans James Armstrong Richardson (1922-2004)". Manitoba Historical Society. Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  2. ^ "THE RICHARDSON". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Profile - Richardson, James Armstrong". Parlinfo. Ottawa: Library of Parliament. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "James Richardson dead at 82" by Aldo Santin, CanWest News Service, May 18, 2004
  5. ^ "Rival trying to steal his men, Socred says", by Mary Trueman, Globe and Mail, January 24, 1979

External links[]

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