Brooke Claxton: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 03:06, 18 June 2005 edit68.145.140.118 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 21:13, 16 October 2024 edit undoBearcat (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators1,563,951 editsm →External links: recatTag: AWB
(146 intermediate revisions by 87 users not shown)
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{Short description\|Canadian politician}}
	The Honorable '''Brooke Claxton''', D.C.M., K.C., B.C.L., LL.D. (b. ] ], d. ]) was a Canadian veteran of ], federal Minister of Health and Welfare and Minister of National Defence.
			{{Use Canadian English\|date=September 2021}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}
			{{Infobox officeholder
			\| honorific-prefix = ]
			\| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals\|country=CAN\|PC\|DCM\|QC\|size=100%}}
			\| image = Brooke Claxton.jpg
			\| imagesize = 220px
			\| office = ]
			\| primeminister = ]<br > ]
			\| term_start = 12 December 1946
			\| term_end = 30 June 1954
			\| predecessor = ]
			\| successor = ]
			\| office1 = ]
			\| term_start1 = 18 October 1944
			\| term_end1 = 11 December 1946
			\| primeminister1 = W. L. Mackenzie King
			\| predecessor1 = ]
			\| successor1 = ]
			\| parliament2 = Canadian
			\| riding2 = ]
			\| term_start2 = 26 March 1940
			\| term_end2 = 31 July 1954
			\| predecessor2 = ]
			\| successor2 = ]
			\| birth_name = Brian Brooke Claxton
			\| birth_date = {{birth date\|df=yes\|1898\|08\|23}}
			\| birth_place = ], ], Canada
			\| death_date = {{death date and age\|df=yes\|1960\|06\|06\|1898\|08\|23}}
			\| death_place = ], ], Canada
			\| party = ]
			\| spouse =
			\| relations = ] (grandson)
			\| children =
			\| residence =
			\| alma_mater =
			\| profession = Lawyer
			\| allegiance = ]
			\| branch = ]
			\| serviceyears = 1914-1918
			\| rank = ]
			\| unit = 10th Canadian Siege Battery
			\| commands =
			\| battles =
			\| mawards = ] (DCM)
			}}

			'''Brian Brooke Claxton''' {{Post-nominals\|country=CAN\|PC\|DCM\|QC}}<ref>{{Cite web\|title = Brian Brooke Claxton - The Canadian Encyclopedia\|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-brooke-claxton \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629081742/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-brooke-claxton \|archive-date=2022-06-29 \|website = www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\|access-date = 29 June 2021}}</ref> (23 August 1898 – 13 June 1960) was a ] veteran of ], federal ] and ].
	He received his early education at Lower Canada College. He was a gifted student and entered McGill University in September 1915 after completing grade 11. After a year at University he left ] in ] and enlisted with the Victoria Rifles of Canada. He served overseas with the Royal Canadian Artillery and saw action, which experience marked him profoundly. He was promoted to the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major in the field and was awarded the ].

			==Early life==
	Returning to ] after the War Brooke Claxton completed his course at McGill, graduating with honours in Law. He practised his profession in Montreal. In ] he was created a ]. He had an academic post at McGill where he was associate professor of commercial law until ].
			He was born in ] and received his early education at ]. He was a gifted student and entered ] in September 1915 after completing grade 11. While at McGill he was a member of the ]. After a year at university he left McGill in 1916 and enlisted with the ].

			==Professional career and achievements==
	Brook Claxton was active in community service. He served as President of the Canadian Club of Montreal, Chairman of the Montreal branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Lower Canada College from 1925 until 1934, and was a graduate fellow of the Corporation of McGill University. The burgeoning nationalism after World War I led Brooke Claxton to become involved in associations such as the Canadian League and the ] Society. He was also an ] on behalf of the federal government in the ] issue concerning jurisdiction over ] broadcasting. He was active in laying the foundations for the establishment of the ].
			He served overseas with the Royal Indian Field Artillery on the Western Front,<ref>{{Cite book\|title=Defence & Discovery: Canada's Military Space Program, 1945-74\|last=Godefroy\|first=Andrew B.\|publisher=UBC Press\|year=2011\|isbn=978-0-7748-1959-6\|location=Vancouver, BC\|pages=14}}</ref> and saw action, which experience marked him profoundly. He was promoted to the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major in the field and was awarded the ].

			Returning to ] after the War, Claxton completed his course at McGill, graduating with honours in Law. He practised his profession in Montreal. In 1939 he was created a ]. He had an academic post at McGill where he was associate professor of commercial law until 1944.
	His political career began in the general election of 1940 when he was first elected to the House of Commons as Liberal Member for the constituency of St. Lawrence-St. George, Montreal. He was re-elected in 1945 and again in 1949. He was appointed in 1943 as Parliamentary Assistant to the ]. He served in the federal Liberal cabinets of ] and ]. In 1944 he was named the first Minister of the newly created Department of National Health and Welfare (1944-46). He was responsible for the organization of the Department and implementation of the administration system for the universal Family Allowances social welfare scheme. In 1946 Brooke Claxton became Minister of National Defence in which portfolio he served until ].

			Claxton was active in community service. He served as President of the Canadian Club of Montreal, Chairman of the Montreal branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, chairman of the Board of Governors of ] from 1925 until 1934, and was a graduate fellow of the Corporation of McGill University. The burgeoning nationalism after World War I led Claxton to become involved in associations such as the Canadian League and the ] Society. He was also an ] on behalf of the federal government in the ] issue concerning jurisdiction over ] broadcasting. He was active in laying the foundations for the establishment of the ].
	In 1947 he headed the Canadian delegation to the ] Conference on ] held in ]. As vice-chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Newfoundland, in 1949 he signed the terms of ] on behalf of Canada. He represented Canada at the meetings of the Defence Committee under the ] in Washington, ] and the Hague. As Minister of National Defence he guided post-war demobilization, helped shape Canadian ] foreign policy, and presided over Canada’s participation in the ].

			==Political career==
	In 1954 he retired from politics, but continued to play an important role in the creation of the ]. He was just sixty-one when he died. At his death in 1960, The Montreal Gazette wrote that the Honourable Brooke Claxton “faced death … with unbreakable courage.” He astounded associates by working hard right to the end and “never relaxing his grip.”

			]
	He was honoured by the ] with the degree of Doctor of Laws at its Golden Jubilee Convocation in 1959.
			]

			His political career began in the ] when he was first elected to the House of Commons as Liberal Member for the constituency of St. Lawrence-St. George, Montreal. He was re-elected in 1945 and again in 1949. He was appointed in 1943 as Parliamentary Assistant to the ]. He served in the federal Liberal cabinets of ] and ]. In 1944 he was named the first Minister of the newly created Department of National Health (1944–46). He was responsible for the organization of the department and implementation of the administration system for the universal Family Allowances social welfare scheme. In 1946 Claxton became Minister of National Defence in which portfolio he served until 1954.
	*]

			In 1947 he headed the Canadian delegation to the ] Conference on ] held in ]. As vice-chairman of the Cabinet Committee on ], in 1949 he signed the terms of ] on behalf of Canada. He represented Canada at the meetings of the Defence Committee under the ] in ], ] and ]. As Minister of National Defence he guided post-war demobilization, helped shape Canadian ] foreign policy, and presided over Canada's participation in the ].
	]
			In 1947, Claxton reopened RMC as a 3-service cadet college offering a 4-year academic degree. He said, "The role of the officer in modern war can only be properly discharged if they have education and standing in the community comparable to that of any of the other professions as well as high qualities of character and physique."
	]

	]
			In 1949 he appointed Rear-Admiral ] to head a commission of inquiry into the so-called ] that year. The Mainguy Report found no sign of ] subversion, and noted that the sailors involved had some justified grievances.

			==Family==
			Claxton's brother-in-law was Second Lieutenant Donaldson Lizars Savage who died on 15 November 1916 at the age of 20.<ref> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012615/http://www.veterans.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections%2Fvirtualmem%2FDetail&casualty=111930 \|date=10 August 2017 }} Casualty List WWI</ref> Savage was killed in action in Somme, France the same year he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada. Savage, who served in the 56th Field Coy, Royal Engineers, informed Claxton about the recruiting (]) practises then in place at the RMC. As Minister of National Defence, Claxton gave instructions that abuses would not be tolerated when RMC reopened after the war.<ref>Richard Preston "Canada's RMC: A History of the Royal Military College" Toronto: University of Toronto Press 1969</ref>

			==Later life==
			In 1954 he retired from politics, but continued to play an important role in the creation of the ]. He was just sixty-one when he died. At his death in 1960, The Montreal Gazette wrote that the Honourable Brooke Claxton "faced death … with unbreakable courage." He astounded associates by working hard right to the end and "never relaxing his grip."

			He was honoured by the ] with the degree of ] at its Golden Jubilee Convocation in 1959.

			The Brooke Claxton Building in ], where the Department of Health is based, was named in his honour.

			== Archives ==
			There is a Brooke Claxton ] at ].<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Finding aid to Brooke Claxton fonds, Library and Archives Canada\|url=http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000000089.pdf\|access-date=2020-08-31}}</ref>

			==See also==
			*]

			== References ==
			{{Reflist}}

			==Further reading==
			* {{cite book\|title=True Patriot: The Life of Brooke Claxton, 1898-1960\|author=David Jay Bercuson\|author-link=David Jay Bercuson\|publisher=]\|year=1993\|isbn=0-8020-2984-1\|url-access=registration\|url=https://archive.org/details/truepatriotlifeo0000berc}}

			==External links==
			* {{Canadian Parliament links\|ID=12149}}

			{{CA-Ministers of Defence}}
			{{CA-Ministers of Health}}

			{{Authority control\|state=expanded}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Claxton, Brooke}}
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 21:13, 16 October 2024

Canadian politician

The HonourableBrooke ClaxtonPC DCM QC


Minister of National Defence
In office 12 December 1946 – 30 June 1954
Prime Minister	W. L. Mackenzie King Louis St. Laurent
Preceded by	Douglas Abbott
Succeeded by	Ralph Campney
Minister of National Health and Welfare
In office 18 October 1944 – 11 December 1946
Prime Minister	W. L. Mackenzie King
Preceded by	Ian Alistair Mackenzie
Succeeded by	Paul Martin, Sr.
Member of Parliament for St. Lawrence--St. George
In office 26 March 1940 – 31 July 1954
Preceded by	Charles Cahan
Succeeded by	Claude Richardson

Personal details
Born	Brian Brooke Claxton (1898-08-23)23 August 1898 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	6 June 1960(1960-06-06) (aged 61) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Relations	Andrew Leslie (grandson)
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Canadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service	1914-1918
Rank	Battery Sergeant-Major
Unit	10th Canadian Siege Battery
Awards	Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

Brian Brooke Claxton PC DCM QC (23 August 1898 – 13 June 1960) was a Canadian veteran of World War I, federal Minister of National Health and Welfare and Minister of National Defence.

Early life

He was born in Montreal and received his early education at Lower Canada College. He was a gifted student and entered McGill University in September 1915 after completing grade 11. While at McGill he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Society. After a year at university he left McGill in 1916 and enlisted with the Victoria Rifles of Canada.

Professional career and achievements

He served overseas with the Royal Indian Field Artillery on the Western Front, and saw action, which experience marked him profoundly. He was promoted to the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major in the field and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Returning to Canada after the War, Claxton completed his course at McGill, graduating with honours in Law. He practised his profession in Montreal. In 1939 he was created a King's Counsel. He had an academic post at McGill where he was associate professor of commercial law until 1944.

Claxton was active in community service. He served as President of the Canadian Club of Montreal, Chairman of the Montreal branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, chairman of the Board of Governors of Lower Canada College from 1925 until 1934, and was a graduate fellow of the Corporation of McGill University. The burgeoning nationalism after World War I led Claxton to become involved in associations such as the Canadian League and the League of Nations Society. He was also an intervenor on behalf of the federal government in the constitutional issue concerning jurisdiction over radio broadcasting. He was active in laying the foundations for the establishment of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Political career

Hon. Brooke Claxton and colleagues at the Paris Peace Conference (1946), Palais du Luxembourg. (L.-r.:) Norman Robertson, Rt. Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King, Hon. Brooke Claxton, Arnold Heeney

His political career began in the general election of 1940 when he was first elected to the House of Commons as Liberal Member for the constituency of St. Lawrence-St. George, Montreal. He was re-elected in 1945 and again in 1949. He was appointed in 1943 as Parliamentary Assistant to the Prime Minister. He served in the federal Liberal cabinets of Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent. In 1944 he was named the first Minister of the newly created Department of National Health (1944–46). He was responsible for the organization of the department and implementation of the administration system for the universal Family Allowances social welfare scheme. In 1946 Claxton became Minister of National Defence in which portfolio he served until 1954.

In 1947 he headed the Canadian delegation to the British Commonwealth Conference on Japan held in Australia. As vice-chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Newfoundland, in 1949 he signed the terms of union on behalf of Canada. He represented Canada at the meetings of the Defence Committee under the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C., Paris and The Hague. As Minister of National Defence he guided post-war demobilization, helped shape Canadian Cold War foreign policy, and presided over Canada's participation in the Korean War. In 1947, Claxton reopened RMC as a 3-service cadet college offering a 4-year academic degree. He said, "The role of the officer in modern war can only be properly discharged if they have education and standing in the community comparable to that of any of the other professions as well as high qualities of character and physique."

In 1949 he appointed Rear-Admiral Rollo Mainguy to head a commission of inquiry into the so-called "mutinees" on several navy ships that year. The Mainguy Report found no sign of Communist subversion, and noted that the sailors involved had some justified grievances.

Family

Claxton's brother-in-law was Second Lieutenant Donaldson Lizars Savage who died on 15 November 1916 at the age of 20. Savage was killed in action in Somme, France the same year he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada. Savage, who served in the 56th Field Coy, Royal Engineers, informed Claxton about the recruiting (hazing) practises then in place at the RMC. As Minister of National Defence, Claxton gave instructions that abuses would not be tolerated when RMC reopened after the war.

Later life

In 1954 he retired from politics, but continued to play an important role in the creation of the Canada Council. He was just sixty-one when he died. At his death in 1960, The Montreal Gazette wrote that the Honourable Brooke Claxton "faced death … with unbreakable courage." He astounded associates by working hard right to the end and "never relaxing his grip."

He was honoured by the University of Saskatchewan with the degree of Doctor of Laws at its Golden Jubilee Convocation in 1959.

The Brooke Claxton Building in Ottawa, where the Department of Health is based, was named in his honour.

References

"Brian Brooke Claxton - The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
Godefroy, Andrew B. (2011). Defence & Discovery: Canada's Military Space Program, 1945-74. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7748-1959-6.
Archived 10 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Casualty List WWI
Richard Preston "Canada's RMC: A History of the Royal Military College" Toronto: University of Toronto Press 1969
"Finding aid to Brooke Claxton fonds, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Retrieved 31 August 2020.

External links

Brooke Claxton – Parliament of Canada biography

v t e Ministers of defence
Ministers of militia and defence (1867–1923)	Cartier Langevin (acting) McDonald Ross Vail Jones Masson Campbell Caron Bowell Patterson Dickey Bowell Desjardins Tisdale Borden Hughes Kemp Mewburn Calder (acting) Guthrie G. Graham
Ministers of national defence (1923–)	G. Graham E. Macdonald Guthrie Robb (acting) Ralston Sutherland Stirling Mackenzie Rogers Power (acting) Ralston McNaughton Abbott Claxton Campney Pearkes Harkness Churchill Hellyer Cadieux Drury (acting) D. Macdonald Benson Dubé (acting) Drury (acting) Richardson Danson McKinnon Lamontagne Blais Coates Clark (acting) Nielsen Beatty McKnight Masse Campbell Siddon Collenette Young Eggleton McCallum Pratt B. Graham O'Connor MacKay Nicholson Kenney Sajjan Anand Blair
Associate ministers of national defence (1953–2013, 2015–)	Power Campney Hellyer Sévigny Cardin Cadieux Andre Dick Collins Guarnieri Bélanger Fantino Valcourt Findlay Fantino Hehr O'Regan Wilson-Raybould Sajjan (acting) MacAulay Petitpas Taylor
Ministers of the naval service (1910–22)	Brodeur Lemieux Hazen Ballantyne G. Graham
World War I	Ministers of the overseas military forces (1916–20) Perley Kemp
World War II	Ministers of national defence for air (1940–46) Power Macdonald (acting) Gibson Ministers of national defence for naval services (1940–46) Macdonald Abbott Ministers of national war services (1940–48) Gardiner Thorson Laflèche McCann

v t e Ministers of health
Ministers of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment (1918–28)	Lougheed (Senator) Manion Béland (Senator) Elliott Manion Morand Paquet King
Ministers of Pensions and National Health (1928–44)	King Ralston MacLaren Sutherland Power Mackenzie
Ministers of Health and Welfare Canada (1944–96)	Claxton Martin Brooks Monteith LaMarsh MacEachen Munro Lalonde Bégin Crombie Bégin Epp Beatty Bouchard Collins Marleau Dingwall
Ministers of Health (1996–)	Dingwall Rock McLellan Pettigrew Dosanjh Clement Aglukkaq Ambrose Philpott Petitpas Taylor Hajdu Jean-Yves Duclos Holland
The portfolio was divided to create the posts of Minister of National Health and Welfare and Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Categories: