List of Prime Ministers of Canada by military service

This is a list of the Prime Ministers of Canada and their military service

The Prime Minister is not Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, rather the role is held by the Queen of Canada and is held on behalf of the monarch by the Governor General of Canada.

Prime MinisterServiceRankActive Service
Sir John A. MacdonaldSedentary MilitiaPrivateKingston during Upper Canada Rebellion 1837; Minister of Militia and Defence 1860-1867
Alexander MackenzieCanadian MilitiaMajorNone; member of militia in Lambton, Ontario (1866–1874)
Sir John Joseph Caldwell AbbottCanadian Militiacommanding officer (Lieutenant Colonel?)None; officer of 11th Argenteuil Battalion militia in Montreal area (1866-1874?)
Sir John Sparrow David Thompsonnonenonenone
Sir Mackenzie BowellCanadian MilitiaLieutenant ColonelCanadian militia posted along the border during the American Civil War; member of 49th (Hastings) Battalion of Rifles militia unit in North Hastings, Ontario (1867–1872); Minister of Militia and Defence 1892 and 1896 (acting)
Sir Charles Tuppernonenonenone
Sir Wilfrid Lauriernonenonenone
Sir Robert Laird Bordennonenonenone
Arthur Meighennonenonenone
William Lyon Mackenzie Kingnonenonenone
Richard Bedford Bennettnonenonenone
Louis St. Laurentnonenonenone
John DiefenbakerCanadian Expeditionary Force (Permanent Active Militia)LieutenantServed during World War I (1916–1917) in Britain as member of 196th Battalion (Western Universities), CEF
Lester Bowles PearsonCanadian Expeditionary Force (Permanent Active Militia)LieutenantServed during World War I in Greece and Egypt as member of Canadian Army Medical Corps and later in the Royal Flying Corps as Pilot (1915–1918) in Britain
Pierre TrudeauCanadian Army Home Service / Canadian Army ReserveOfficer cadetNone; Served in Canadian Officers' Training Corps from 1943 to 1945 in Montreal during World War II, but never deployed overseas
Joe Clarknonenonenone
John Napier Turnernonenonenone
Brian Mulroneynonenonenone
Kim Campbellnonenonenone; Minister of National Defence 1993
Jean Chrétiennonenonenone
Paul Martinnonenonenone
Stephen Harpernonenonenone
Justin Trudeaunonenonenone

Only seven Prime Ministers have served in the military:

  • Four Prime Ministers served in volunteer militia units (see Canadian Militia) attached to the British Army in Canada in later part of the 19th century
  • One Prime Minister (Trudeau) was a cadet (not a full member) of the volunteer Canadian Army during World War II
  • Only Diefenbaker and Pearson served as officers and overseas (during World War I)
  • Seven Prime Ministers were members of the Army (none in the Navy or Air Force)
  • One Prime Minister (Pearson) served in a non-Canadian military unit, the Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) during World War I

Two Prime Ministers have been Minister of Militia and Defence (Macdonald and Bowell) and one as Minister of National Defence (Campbell).

Sources

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