Sir Wilfrid LaurierThe first French Canadian to become Prime Minister of Canada was Wilfrid Laurier. Although French was his native language, he became a master of the English language. This and his colorful personality made him popular throughout Canada, and he led the young country through a 15-year period of great development. Wilfrid Laurier was born in St-Lin, Quebec, and studied law at McGill University. After three years in the Quebec legislature, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1874. There he quickly rose to leadership. Although he was French Canadian and Roman Catholic, he was chosen as leader of the Liberal Party in 1887. Nine years later he became prime minister. He was knighted in 1897. "Build Canada" were the watchwords of Laurier's government. Laurier was loyal to Britain, sent Canadian volunteers to help in the Boer War, established a favorable tariff for British goods, and worked to strengthen ties between the two countries. But he saw the British Empire as a worldwide alliance of free and equal nations, and opposed any attempt to limit Canada's freedom. Laurier's liberal immigration policy brought hundreds of thousands of settlers to the western provinces. He reduced postal rates, promoted the construction of railroads necessary for national expansion, and appointed a commission to regulate railroad rates. After 15 years in office his government was defeated, presumably over the issue of reciprocal trade with the United States. Laurier believed, however, that his political defeat was caused primarily by opponents in Ontario who viewed him as too partial to Roman Catholic interests in Quebec. Before the First World War, Laurier forcefully tried to support the formation of a Canadian navy. Its own Liberal Party, however, rejected this measure, and Canada entered the war without a navy of its own. During the early years of the First World War, Laurier supported the war policy of Sir Robert Borden's Conservative government. In 1917 he refused to join a coalition government formed to support conscription. Laurier felt he could not support such an unpopular measure in the province of Quebec. Wilfrid Laurier's regime lasted 15 years. It was a time of renewed growth and prosperity. Manitoba's school issue was promptly put to rest by new legislation enacted by the province in accordance with a compromise agreed with Ottawa. To his cabinet Laurier attracted some of the most capable leaders from all over Canada. Business around the world was picking up, and the Laurier government was determined to take action. Demand for Canadian grain abroad encouraged immigration, and immigration in turn