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Leadership Conventions

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Conservative (1867-1942)

Date Founded (yyyy.mm.dd): 1867

Last Official Leader: Meighen, Arthur

Notes: The titles “Conservative” and “Liberal-Conservative” were used interchangeably between 1867 and 1942.

Changes to "Progressive Conservative Party" in December 1942.

LEADERSHIP ROLES

^ Party Leader

Name	Term (yyyy.mm.dd)
Meighen, Arthur Elected party leader in 1941 but could not get elected in a riding so that Hanson still remained as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons.	1941.11.12 - 1942.12.09
Hanson, Richard Burpee (Acting) In May 1940, during the war, Hanson was chosen, by caucus members, as temporary "Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons".	1940.05.14 - 1941.11.11
Manion, Robert James	1938.07.07 - 1940.05.13
Bennett, Richard Bedford Sworn in as Prime Minister on August 7, 1930.	1927.10.12 - 1938.07.06
Guthrie, Hugh Elected by caucus members to serve as party leader only until a new convention could be called.	1926.10.11 - 1927.10.11
Meighen, Arthur Sworn in as Prime Minister on July 10, 1920 and on June 29, 1926.	1920.07.10 - 1926.09.24
Borden, Robert Laird Sworn in as Prime Minister on October 10, 1911 and on October 12, 1917.	1901.02.06 - 1920.07.09
Tupper, Charles Upon the resignation of Bowell, designated prime minister (and therefore leader of his party) by the then governor general.	1896.05.01 - 1901.02.05
Bowell, Mackenzie Upon the death of Thompson, designated prime minister (and therefore leader of his party) by the then governor general.	1894.12.21 - 1896.04.27

^ Prime Minister

Name	Term (yyyy.mm.dd)
Bennett, Richard Bedford 1,903 days (5 years, 2 months, 15 days)	1930.08.07 - 1935.10.22
Meighen, Arthur 88 days (2 months, 26 days)	1926.06.29 - 1926.09.24
Meighen, Arthur 537 days (1 year, 6 months, 18 days)	1920.07.10 - 1921.12.28
Borden, Robert Laird 2,194 days (6 years, 1 day)	1911.10.10 - 1917.10.11
Tupper, Charles 68 days (2 months, 6 days)	1896.05.01 - 1896.07.08
Bowell, Mackenzie 493 days (1 year, 4 months, 5 days)	1894.12.21 - 1896.04.27

^ Leader of The Official Opposition

Name	Term (yyyy.mm.dd)
Manion, Robert James	1938.07.07 - 1940.05.13
Bennett, Richard Bedford	1935.10.23 - 1938.07.06
Bennett, Richard Bedford	1927.10.12 - 1930.08.06
Guthrie, Hugh (Acting)	1926.10.11 - 1927.10.11
Meighen, Arthur	1921.12.29 - 1926.06.28
Borden, Robert Laird	1901.02.06 - 1911.10.09
Tupper, Charles	1896.07.11 - 1901.02.05

Leadership Conventions

The Conservatives have elected their leader by means of a national convention since 1927. There were only two exceptions to this rule, during the war years: Richard Hanson (temporary leader), May 1940 - November 1941, and Arthur Meighen, November 1941 - December 1942.

^ July 7, 1938 (Ottawa, Ontario)

Ballot No. 2

Name	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Manion, Robert James	830	53.00 %
MacPHERSON, Murdoch Alexander	648	41.38 %
Harris, Joseph Henry	49	3.13 %
Massey, Denton	39	2.49 %
Spoiled Ballots	0
TOTAL	1566

Ballot No. 1

Name	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Manion, Robert James	726	46.39 %
MacPHERSON, Murdoch Alexander	475	30.35 %
Harris, Joseph Henry	131	8.37 %
Massey, Denton	128	8.18 %
Lawson, James Earl	105	6.71 %
Spoiled Ballots	0
TOTAL	1565

^ October 12, 1927 (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Ballot No. 2

Name	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Bennett, Richard Bedford	780	50.19 %
Guthrie, Hugh	320	20.59 %
Cahan, Charles Hazlitt	266	17.12 %
Manion, Robert James	148	9.52 %
Rogers, Robert	37	2.38 %
Drayton, Henry Lumley	3	0.19 %
Spoiled Ballots	0
TOTAL	1554

Ballot No. 1

Name	Number of Votes	% of Votes
Bennett, Richard Bedford	594	37.98 %
Guthrie, Hugh	345	22.06 %
Cahan, Charles Hazlitt	310	19.82 %
Manion, Robert James	170	10.87 %
Rogers, Robert	114	7.29 %
Drayton, Henry Lumley	31	1.98 %
Spoiled Ballots	0
TOTAL	1564

Officers of Party Caucuses and Executives