Geoffrey Pearson

For the Bishop of Lancaster, see Geoff Pearson.

Geoffrey Pearson
OC
Pearson in 2001
4th Canadian Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office
1980–1983
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byRobert Arthur Douglas Ford
Succeeded byVernon George Turner
Canadian Ambassador to Mongolia
In office
1980–1981
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byRobert Arthur Douglas Ford
Personal details
Born
Geoffrey Arthur Holland Pearson

(1927-12-24)December 24, 1927
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 18, 2008(2008-03-18) (aged 80)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1951)​
Children5 (including Patricia Pearson)
Parent(s)Lester B. Pearson
Maryon Moody
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
University of Oxford
Profession
  • Diplomat
  • author

Geoffrey Arthur Holland Pearson OC (December 24, 1927 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian diplomat and author. He was the son of former Prime Minister of Canada Lester B. Pearson and Maryon Pearson.

Biography

Born in Toronto, Pearson was educated at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario, the University of Toronto, and the University of Oxford.[1]

Pearson joined the Department of External Affairs (now called Global Affairs Canada) in 1952, being 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, would be a senior civil servant.[1][2]

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.[1][3] He was also Ambassador to Mongolia from 1980 to 1981.[4]

In late 1983, Pearson was appointed as a special representative for arms control to then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and in 1984 he was seconded to the Canadian Institute of 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 diplomatic legacy. Pearson was a past president of the United Nations Association in Canada. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[1]

Pearson died in Ottawa, Ontario, on March 18, 2008. He was survived by his wife, Senator Landon Pearson (served 1994–2005), and their five children—Patricia, Michael (former diplomat and official with Fisheries and Oceans Canada), Hilary, Anne, and Katherine.[5]

Published works

  • Pearson, Geoffrey A.H. (1993). Seize the Day: Lester B. Pearson and Crisis Diplomacy. Carleton University Press. ISBN 978-0886292171.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Remembering Geoffrey Pearson, OC (1925 - 2008) - WUSC (World University Service of Canada)". wusc.ca. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  2. ^ Campion-Smith, Bruce (March 20, 2008). "Geoffrey Pearson, 80: PM's son, diplomat". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  3. ^ Nov 23, James Munson Published on; 2017 4:19pm. "The Pearson family". iPolitics. Retrieved 2022-02-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Canada, Global Affairs; Canada, Affaires mondiales (26 June 2013). "Global Affairs Canada". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. ^ Mahoney, Jill (March 18, 2008). "Geoffrey Pearson, 80". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 19, 2014.

References