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Length of Terms of Former Prime Ministers


The 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed in the 1940s, limited the President to two 4-year terms. Franklin Roosevelt was the only President to serve more than 8 years (1933-1945). In Canada, however, there is no limit to the length of time the Prime Minister can stay in office. William Lyon Mackenzie King currently holds the record for the longest serving Prime Minister, at more than 21 years. Macdonald, P. Trudeau, and Laurier all served more than 15 years each. On the other end of the scale, Sir Charles Tupper and John Turner both served for just over two months.

It also may be interesting to note here that five of Canada's Prime Ministers died in office or as Members of Parliament after being Prime Minister.

MAIN MENU: GOVERNMENT: FEDERAL: PRIME MINISTER: FORMER PRIME MINISTERS: LENGTH OF TERMS


RankPrime MinisterDates of OfficeLength of Term
1.The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King29 Dec 1921 - 28 Jun 1926
25 Sep 1926 - 7 Aug 1930
23 Oct 1935 - 15 Nov 1948
7824 days
21 years, 5 months, and 1 day
2.The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald1 Jul 1867 - 5 Nov 1873
8 Oct 1878 - 6 Jun 1891
6934 days
18 years, 11 months, and 24 days
3.The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau20 Apr 1968 - 4 Jun 1979
3 Mar 1980 - 30 Jun 1984
5640 days
15 years, 5 months, and 9 days
4.The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier11 Jul 1896 - 6 Oct 19115564 days
15 years, 2 months, and 24 days
5.The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien4 Nov 1993 - 12 Dec 20033690 days
10 years, 1 month, and 8 days
6.The Right Honourable Stephen Harper6 Feb 2006 - 4 Nov 20153558 days
9 years, 8 months, 29 days
*The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau4 Nov 2015 - Present3227 days
8 years, 10 months (so far)
7.The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney17 Sep 1984 - 25 Jun 19933202 days
8 years, 9 months, and 6 days
8.The Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden10 Oct 1911 - 10 Jul 19203194 days
8 years, 8 months, and 28 days
9.The Right Honourable Louis St. Laurent15 Nov 1948 - 21 Jun 19573139 days
8 years, 7 months, and 3 days
10.The Right Honourable John Diefenbaker21 Jun 1957 - 22 Apr 19632130 days
5 years, 9 months, and 29 days
11.The Right Honourable Richard Bennett7 Aug 1930 - 23 Oct 19351902 days
5 years, 2 months, and 14 days
12.The Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson22 Apr 1963 - 20 Apr 19681824 days
4 years, 11 months, and 28 days
13.The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie5 Nov 1873 - 8 Oct 18781796 days
4 years, 11 months
14.The Right Honourable Paul Martin12 Dec 2003 - 6 Feb 2006787 days
2 years, 1 month, and 25 days
15.The Right Honourable Sir John Thompson5 Dec 1892 - 12 Dec 1894737 days
2 years, and 6 days
16.The Right Honourable Arthur Meighen10 Jul 1920 - 29 Dec 1921
28 Jun 1926 - 25 Sep 1926
623 days
1 year, 8 months, and 14 days
17.The Honourable Sir John Abbott6 Jun 1891 - 24 Nov 1892527 days
1 year, 5 months, and 9 days
18.The Honourable Sir Mackenzie Bowell12 Dec 1894 - 27 Apr 1896493 days
1 year, 4 months, and 6 days
19.The Right Honourable Joe Clark4 Jun 1979 - 3 Mar 1980272 days
8 months and 28 days
20.The Right Honourable Kim Campbell25 Jun 1993 - 4 Nov 1993131 days
4 months and 9 days
21.The Right Honourable John Turner30 Jun 1984 - 17 Sep 198478 days
2 months and 17 days
22.The Honourable Sir Charles Tupper1 May 1896 - 8 Jul 189668 days
2 months and 7 days
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See also
Prime Minister of Canada
Former Prime Ministers of Canada

External Links
Prime Minister of Canada Official Website


Copyright Craig I.W. Marlatt