Power, Charles Gavan

Person

Power, Charles Gavan

1888-1968

Charles Gavan Power (1888-1968) was born at Sillery, Québec. He attended Loyola College in Montreal where he specialized in history from 1899 to 1907. In 1907 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and went to Laval University where he studied law, graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1910. That same year he was called to the Quebec Bar and, soon afterwards, joined with Lucien Connor to form the legal firm of Connor and Power in Quebec City. During the FIrst World War Power served overseas in the Canadian Army as Captain and Major. When he returned to Canada in 1917 he became involved in organizational work for the Liberal Party in Quebec. He was nominated as a candidate in the riding of Quebec South and was first elected to the House of Commons in 1917. He was re-elected in the next nine federal elections.He continued to practice law and in Parliament became an authority on election law. In 1935 Prime Minister Mackenzie King named Power to the Cabinet as Minister of Pensions and National Health. In 1939 Power was appointed Postmaster General and in 1940 Minister of National Defence for Air. Less than two months later he was also named Associate Minister of National Defence. Power resigned from the Cabinet in 1944, during the "Conscription Crisis". He remained in the House of Commons, however, until 1955. Senator Power died at Quebec City in 1968.

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