John B. McNair
John Babbitt McNair, CC (November 20, 1889 – June 14, 1968) was the 23rd premier of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada from 1940 to 1952. He worked as a lawyer, politician and judge.
Born in Andover, New Brunswick, he graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1911 with a B.A. degree. Awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, at Oxford University he earned a B.A. in 1913 and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1914, graduating with first-class honours.
At the onset of World War I he enlisted in the Canadian Army and served on the battlefields of France and Germany as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Captain McNair served again during World War II as a member of the Royal Canadian Artillery Reserves.
John McNair was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1935 New Brunswick general election and served as Attorney-General in the government of Premier Dysart and served as president of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick from 1932 to 1940. He lost his seat in the 1939 election but returned in 1940, succeeding Dysart as leader of the party and premier.
Despite province wide protests, on April 27, 1950 McNair's government implemented a four percent provincial sales tax to help finance the public education system and social services.
McNair served as premier for twelve years until the defeat of his government in 1952 at which time he returned to the practise of law. In 1955 he was named Chief Justice of New Brunswick and became the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of the province in 1965.
In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
Read more about John B. McNair: Life Story
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