Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Lester B. Pearson

1957 Press Photo Lester Pearson wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Photo by, Nobel Foundation, Associated Press –Wikimedia

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Lester B. Pearson

Lester Bowles Pearson was a jack of all trades as he was a diplomat, politician, statesman, and scholar. He also served as Canada’s 14th Prime Minister.

Lester was born in Newtonbrook, Ontario. He was born to Edwin Arthur, a religious individual who was a Minister at a Methodist Church, and Annie Sarah. He too had siblings who were Marmaduke Pearson and Vaughan Whittier Pearson.

1. Lester B. Pearson claimed prowess in different sporting activities

Ice hockey in Europe; Oxford University vs. Switzerland, 1922. Future Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson is at right front. His nickname from the Swiss was “Herr Zig-Zag”. Photo by, Unknown author-Wikimedia

One of the sports he greatly excelled in was rugby. He got to venture into different sporting activities while he was at the University of Toronto. He also played basketball while he was a scholar at the university.

Ice hockey was also a part of him as he became a player in the Oxford University Ice  Hockey. He even got to win the first Spengler Cup, in 1923. 

One’s youth is meant for exploring different activities and Lester used his youth to play lacrosse and baseball. He also played tennis and golf as an adult. 

When he joined the University of Toronto as an instructor, he aided by coaching the University’s football and hockey teams. 

2. Lester B. Pearson tied the knot with one of his students

While he was a lecturer at the University of Toronto, he got to engage with one of his students, with whom they, later on, tied the knot. 

The student was none other than Maryon Moody who traced her origin from Winnipeg. Together, they were blessed with a son and a daughter. The names of their children are Geoffrey Pearson and Patricia Pearson. 

3. Lester B. Pearson received The Nobel Peace Prize in 1957

1957 Press Photo Lester Pearson wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Photo by, Nobel Foundation, Associated Press-Wikimedia

In 1956, France, Israel, and Great Britain launched an attack on Egypt which aimed to remove the then President Nasser.  This attack was a result of the ‘Suez Crisis

The Soviet Union on hearing this threatened to use atomic bombs against the respective countries. At that time, Lester Pearson had been appointed Secretary of State for External affairs. 

He took matters into his hands and decided to send the United Nations Emergency Force to the vicinity to clear the air. The force managed to sustain peace in Egypt and later on, this act gained Lester the Peace Prize in 1957. 

4. Lester B. Pearson managed to cheat death twice while he was in England

The first incident was when he survived an airplane crash. This took place in Hendon when he was learning the fundamentals of how to fly a plane. This was during his first flight. 

In 1918, Pearson was hit by a bus in London as the city was experiencing a blackout. He was immediately sent home to convalesce but this incident made his officials discharge him from the service. 

5. Lester B. Pearson’s was nicknamed “Mike”

The name was instilled in him by his flight instructor who believed that his initial name Lester was too sissy for him to have as a pilot.

Lester humbly accepted the name as his, as he went through the various steps of being a knowledgeable pilot. He still got to retain his initial name as they were reinstated into his official documents and political life. 

But in his private life, his close family always addressed him as Mike. The name reminded Lester of the various plane lessons he underwent to become a pilot.

6. Lester B. Pearson voluntarily took part in World War I

Pearson serving with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in World War I in Salonika. Photo by, LAC/BAC from Canada- Wikimedia

During this war, he volunteered to become a medical practitioner in the University of Toronto Hospital Unit. 

Little did he know that he would venture deep into the world war. As the days went by, he took part in the Canadian Army Medical Corps as a stretcher bearer. 

The indulgence and free will, later on, gave him the rank of corporal. He was taken to different parts of the world during his service for he got to serve in Southern Europe and also in Egypt. 

7. Lester B. Pearson continued with his studies after the war

Close up of books on the desk in the library. Photo by, Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Immediately after the war, he went back to the University of Toronto where he studied and attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree

After attaining his degree, he went to hustle and tussle where he spent twelve months working in the meat packing industry. He did this work in Hamilton and Chicago.  Further on he admitted that he did not like the work at all.

8. Lester B. Pearson was the first person to ever score the highest marks in the Canadian Foreign Service entry exam 

Not only did he excel as a sportsman but also was a bright lad. In 1827, he sat for the Canadian foreign service entry exam of which he attained the top marks becoming position one. 

Excelling in these exams opened doors for him. He, later on, went to work in the Department of External Affairs. 

As he worked there, Prime Minister R. Bennett noted the immense talent Lester possessed and he, later on, went to reward him with two positions namely;  the 1931 Royal Commission on Grain Futures and the 1934 Royal Commission on Rice Spreads. 

9. Lester B. Pearson was a victim of Cancer

Even though he managed to dodge death twice, cancer came knocking its doors into his body. At first, he had eye cancer and had his right eye removed to eradicate the tumor. 

Unfortunately, cancer had spread into his liver and he had a  battle with the fatal disease. On 27th December 1972, it was pronounced that he had kicked the bucket after losing the fight against cancer. 

He was later on laid to rest at Maclaren Cemetery alongside his external affairs colleagues Norman Robertson and H.H Wrong. 

10. Lester B. Pearson was responsible for the changing of the Canadian flag

Lester changed Canada’s flag to its initial flag. This brought great controversies among various Canadian political leaders who believed in retaining the original color of the flag.

The change was inevitable as many supported the idea. Over 3000 new designs were brought forth by the young and old. After careful meetings and considerations, today’s Canada flag was chosen. 

Lester believed that this flag would be used to enhance unity and patriotism, especially among the youth hence leading to a greater and more productive country. 

Lester B. Pearson has had a greater impact on Canada and the world at large. He will be well remembered for the various measures he took to make his country and people great as he was a man who valued his people.

His sharp wits and flexibility to take part in different activities are to be greatly admired. This gives hope to the people who would like to take risks in life, for risks are a part of human growth.