Flora MacDonald

Key facts

Born

3 June 1926, North Sydney

Died

26 July 2015, Ottawa

State of birth

North Sydney

Sector

Politics & governance

Profession

Canadian politician (1926-2015)

Gender

Female

Biography

Flora Isabel MacDonald was a Canadian politician and humanitarian. Canada's first female foreign minister, she was also one of the first women to vie for leadership of a major Canadian political party, the Progressive Conservatives. She became a close ally of Prime Minister Joe Clark, serving in his cabinet from 1979 to 1980, as well as in the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1988. In her later life, she was known for her humanitarian work abroad. Jimmy Carter has said that 90% of the contribution to freeing American hostages in Iran should be attributed to her and Kenneth D. Taylor. The City of Ottawa recognised MacDonald on July 11, 2018, by naming a new bicycle and footbridge over the Rideau Canal the Flora Footbridge.

Summary based on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed by the RochakDuniya editorial team.

Timeline

1. 1926Born in North Sydney
2. 1972Becomes member of the House of Commons of Canada
3. 1974Becomes member of the House of Commons of Canada
4. 1979Becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
5. 1979Becomes member of the House of Commons of Canada
6. 1980Becomes member of the House of Commons of Canada
7. 1984Becomes Minister of Employment and Immigration
8. 1984Becomes member of the House of Commons of Canada
9. 1999Awarded the Pearson Medal of Peace
10. 2015Dies in Ottawa