TIMELINE: The life of Lincoln Alexander
Posted October 26, 2012 5:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Lincoln Alexander, Canada’s first black MP and former Ontario lieutenant governor — known to all as “Linc” — died at the age of 90 on Oct. 19.
Alexander served as Ontario’s lieutenant governor from 1985 to 1991 among his many accomplishments.
He was honoured with a state funeral on Friday afternoon at Hamilton Place.
The Life of Linc
1922: Lincoln MacCauley Alexander born on Jan. 21 in Toronto.
1942-1945: Wireless operator with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War.
1948: Marries Yvonne Harrison.
1949: Son, Keith, is born.
1949: Graduates from McMaster University with BA.
1953: Graduates from Osgoode Hall Law School; called to the bar.
1963-79: Partner in Toronto law firm.
1965: Runs unsuccessfully as a Conservative in the federal riding of Hamilton West.
1968: Elected Conservative MP for Hamilton West, re-elected three times — 1972, 1979 and 1980; Becomes first black MP in Canada.
1979-80: Appointed Minister of Labour under Prime Minister Joe Clark; Becomes first black cabinet minister in Canada.
1980: Retires from politics; serves as chairman of the Ontario Workman’s Compensation Board.
1985-91: Appointed Ontario’s 24th lieutenant governor.
1991-07: Appointed chancellor of the University of Guelph.
1992: Appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada and to the Order of Ontario.
1996-03: Appointed chairman, Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
1999: First wife Yvonne dies.
2006: Publishes Go To School, You’re A Little Black Boy.
2011: Marries Marni Beal, a woman nearly 30 years his junior.
2012: Suffers aortic embolism; undergoes emergency surgery.
Oct. 19 2012: Dies at age 90.
