William Lyon Mackenzie King, most often referred to as Mackenzie King, was a Canadian politician who served his nation as Prime Minister from 1921–1926, then again in 1926–1930, and a third time from 1935–1948.

In his early years he was well educated in Toronto, then attended Harvard University in Massachusetts. In Chicago, Illinois he worked at Hull House, a settlement house (which is a social welfare aimed at neighborhood improvement as a whole) which would have a lasting impact. Though he never fully believed in socialism, he would implement social programs such as unemployment insurance.

His start in politics was slow, but ended up on top. In 1909 he became the first full-time minister of labour in Canada, but held it for only two years when elections changed ruling parties. In 1919 he became the leader of the Liberal Party due in large part to his stance on social reform without implementing socialism. In the 1921 election, the Liberal Party won, and Mackenzie King became Prime Minister of Canada for the first time. 

Throughout the country the majority of Canadians were upset about the number of Chinese immigrants allowed into Canada. Fears of the Chinese taking jobs at a lower pay rate, limiting employment of other Canadians. This was especially felt among the citizens of British Columbia on the west coast, where most of the immigrants came and stayed. Bowing to public pressure, on July 1^st, 1923, the McKenzie government enacted the Chinese Immigration Act (often referred to as the Chinese Exclusion Act), a day that came to be known among Canadian immigrants as ‘Humiliation Day’. Newer restrictions were put into place not for immigration, but for Chinese immigrants only, that limited vessels entering Canada to no  more than one Chinese person per 250 tons of the ships total weight. Allowances were made for diplomats and other government representatives on official business, including their servants, consuls and agents.  Canadians born of Chinese heritage who were out of country attending school were also allowed to return. Wives and children still in China were not allowed to join their husband and father who were already in Canada. Chinese already in Canada were compelled to carry photo identification to prove their legitimate presence in Canada, and during the depression years the government encouraged Chinese immigrants to return to China. During the 24 years of enforcement it has been estimated that only 15 Chinese immigrants came into British Columbia, and another 29 into the rest of Canada.

In 1925 the election turned out to be a stalemate between the liberal and Conservative parties, and yet Mackenzie King won a vote of confidence, and he served as Prime Minister of Canada again, but for only six months. Due to a scandal in the Canadian Customs Department, King resigned his position. His successor however wound up losing the government in only two days. The resulting election found Mackenzie King again Prime Minister of Canada. In 1930 King lost the election, but the country backed him once more in 1935 when he won by a landslide.

After the Second World War Canada became a signatory of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Chinese Immigration Act was in conflict with that declaration. Along with the UN Declaration, concerted efforts to repeal the act were made by WWII veterans of Chinese decent and the Chinese immigrant community at large, resulting in its repeal on May 14^th, 1947. Though the implications of the act would last, the wrong had been righted within the law, and Mackenzie King would serve as Prime Minister of Canada until 1948 when he retired. 

Mackenzie King’s role as Prime Minister through WWII and the reconstruction years afterward guaranteed his place as a great political leader in Canadian history. His government raised a mighty fighting force, overcame the conscription requirements, developed a massive wartime industry and bolstered the postwar economy. Through the war years and the prosperous time afterwards, Canada had evolved into a nation that was more independent from The United Kingdom, economically sound and confident in its role at home and world-wide.

Often described a lacking personality, his cold demeanor and lack of social graces did not endear him to the nation. While he had many party adherents, he had few friends, and was a lifelong bachelor. He kept his personal life quiet, and like Winston Churchill, Mackenzie King held strong beliefs in spiritualism, often employing a medium to keep in touch with his departed mother. He kept a detailed diary of his life that, after his death, revealed his inner self more than he ever did to anyone while alive. Despite his detractors who based his faults mainly on his personality, Mackenzie King turned out to be the right man for Canada at the right time, passing away from pneumonia only two years after his retirement from public service.