Geoffrey Pearson
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Arthur Holland Pearson, OC
(December 24, 1927 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian
diplomat
and author. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was the son of former Prime Minister of Canada
Lester B. Pearson
and Maryon Pearson
.
Born in Toronto
, Pearson was educated at Trinity College School
in Port Hope, Ontario
, the University of Toronto
, and the University of Oxford
. Pearson joined the department of External Affairs in 1952 (now called DFAIT). He held diplomatic appointments at the Canadian embassies in Paris
and Mexico City
, and at the high commission in New Delhi
. From 1980 to 1983, he served as Canada's ambassador to the Soviet Union
. He was also Ambassador to Mongolia from 1980 to 1981.
In late 1983, Pearson was appointed as a special representative to then Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
for arms control, and in 1984 he was seconded to the Canadian Institute for International Affairs. In January 1985 he was appointed as the first executive director of the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security, where he served for six years. In 1996, his book "Seize the Day" was published, chronicling his father's (Lester B. Pearson
) diplomatic legacy.(Link to Seize the Day at Amazon.com) Pearson was a past president of the United Nations Association in Canada
. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Pearson died in Ottawa, Ontario. He is survived by his wife, Senator Landon Pearson
, and their five children, including National Post
journalist Patricia Pearson
.
Pearson was the second of three members of his family to serve in Canada
's diplomatic service. His father was Secretary of State for External Affairs and his son Michael Pearson
is a senior official with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(December 24, 1927 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and author. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was the son of former Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
and Maryon Pearson
Maryon Pearson
Maryon Elspeth Pearson, née Moody was the wife of Lester Bowles Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada.Maryon and Lester Pearson married on August 22, 1925. They met at the University of Toronto, where he was a teacher and she was a student.Maryon Pearson was also known for her sharp tongued wit...
.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Pearson was educated at Trinity College School
Trinity College School
Trinity College School is a coeducational, independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than 2 years prior to Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for grades 9 to 12 and a Junior School for grades 5 to 8.Among its...
in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Pearson joined the department of External Affairs in 1952 (now called DFAIT). He held diplomatic appointments at the Canadian embassies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and at the high commission in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. From 1980 to 1983, he served as Canada's ambassador to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He was also Ambassador to Mongolia from 1980 to 1981.
In late 1983, Pearson was appointed as a special representative to then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
for arms control, and in 1984 he was seconded to the Canadian Institute for International Affairs. In January 1985 he was appointed as the first executive director of the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security, where he served for six years. In 1996, his book "Seize the Day" was published, chronicling his father's (Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
) diplomatic legacy.(Link to Seize the Day at Amazon.com) Pearson was a past president of the United Nations Association in Canada
United Nations Association in Canada
The United Nations Association in Canada engages the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and the critical international issues which face us all. Canada has been an integral part of the UNA and continues to do so in the future....
. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Pearson died in Ottawa, Ontario. He is survived by his wife, Senator Landon Pearson
Landon Pearson
Landon Carter "Lucy" Pearson, OC, B.A., M.Ed. is a former Canadian senator and a children's rights advocate. She is the daughter-in-law of former Prime Minister Lester B...
, and their five children, including National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
journalist Patricia Pearson
Patricia Pearson
Patricia Pearson is a Canadian writer and journalist. She's published three non-fiction books and two novels.-Life and work:...
.
Pearson was the second of three members of his family to serve in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's diplomatic service. His father was Secretary of State for External Affairs and his son Michael Pearson
Michael Pearson (Canadian diplomat)
Michael Pearson is a senior official with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He previously worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade where he was Senior Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Coordinator for Foreign Policy in the department.He is the...
is a senior official with the Department of Foreign Affairs.