Jean Chrétien

Canadian politician, the 20th Prime Minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003.

Cretien came from a large family, the 18th of 19 children, ten of whom died in infancy. Despite his humble origins he received a good education. In 1958, with a law degree from Laval University, Chretien joined a law firm in Shawinigan. Five years later (1963) he won election to the House of Commons. In the Trudeau government he held several positions, most notably, Minister of State (1965) and Minister of National Revenue (1968). He won another election to the House on June 25, 1968. On July 6th that year he was sworn in as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. On August 8, 1974, he left that position to take on new responsibility, this time as President of the Treasury Board.

On September 14, 1976, he was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. A year later, on September 16th, he became Minister of Finance, a post he held until June 4, 1979. He won his sixth consecutive bid for a seat in the House of Commonson May 22, 1979. He left politics in 1986, joining the boards of several corporations but returned a few years later. In 1990 he became head of the Liberal Party, and in 1993 he became Prime Minister. He and his party held the majority for 10 years. Finally, his poll numbers sliding, he announced in late 2002 that he would leave office in February 2004. He stepped down on December 12, 2003.

Chretien published his autobiography in 1985; the book recounted his early life. His second autobiography detailing his political career was published in 2007.

He and his wife, married since September 10, 1957, have three children.

In his later years, Chretien has suffered from some health problems. On October 3, 2007 he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. On August 5, 2010 he was admitted to the hospital where tests revealed that he had subdural hematoma.He had successful surgery the following day.