Since we started 2022 with Mackenzie King and his trusty diary, it seemed fitting to end the year with our 10th Prime Minister. On December 31, 1896 the future PM was home after studying at the University of Chicago. As he scribbled away in the privacy of his diary, he was conflicted, and worried about what career path he would – or should – take.“As yet I know not into which channels my life energy will be directed, this possibly the coming year will solve,” he wrote. “There are three worthy ambitions which spread themselves before me, a leading position in political life – life of the state – a leading position in university life – and a leading position in the church.”
“I leave to the future,” he continued, “with the earnest prayer that God will direct me into the one in which my service can be best given to His cause, and with the prayer that if any of these or other causes may take me away from Him that my life be blighted e’er (sic) that time come.”
Happy New Year all and I hope you have enjoyed 2022 on Art’s History.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.