Robert Borden was born in Nova Scotia in 1854. He became a lawyer and politician and in 1901 became leader of the Conservative Opposition in the Canadian parliament. At the time, Wilfred Laurier, the leader of the Liberal Party, enjoyed a large majority in parliament.

The electorate turned against Wilfred Laurier as a result of a trade agreement with the United States and Borden became prime minister in October 1911. Borden, who was knighted in 1914, gave his full support to the Allies throughout the First World War and sent almost half a million volunteers to fight in Europe.

In 1917 Borden represented Canada in the Imperial War Cabinet. Borden also attended the Versailles Peace Conference where he argued that British dominions should be treated as equal partners with Britain in international affairs. An active supporter of the League of Nations, Borden served on its council in 1930.

Sir Robert Borden died in 1937.