Article

Robert Henry Winters

Published Online June 4, 2008

Last Edited December 15, 2013

Robert Henry Winters, politician, businessman (b at Lunenburg, NS 18 Aug 1910; d at Monterey, Calif 10 Oct 1969). Educated at Mt Allison U and Massachusetts Inst of Technology, Winters joined Northern Electric in Montréal in 1934. He became a lt-col in the army in WWII.

Robert Henry Winters

Robert Henry Winters, politician, businessman (b at Lunenburg, NS 18 Aug 1910; d at Monterey, Calif 10 Oct 1969). Educated at Mt Allison U and Massachusetts Inst of Technology, Winters joined Northern Electric in Montréal in 1934. He became a lt-col in the army in WWII. Elected to the House of Commons for Lunenburg 1945 as a Liberal and re-elected in 1949 and 1953, he sat in the Cabinet 1948-57. Defeated in the 1957 election, Winters entered private business and was president and chairman of Rio Algom Mines 1963-65. At Lester PEARSON's urging, he re-entered politics. He was elected in the 1965 election (York West) and was rewarded with the post of minister of trade and commerce. Narrowly defeated by Pierre TRUDEAU in the contest for the Liberal leadership after Pearson's resignation, Winters retired from politics. He was president and director of Brazilian Light and Power Co Ltd in 1968-69.