Bennett Campbell

The Honourable Bennett Campbell PC
24th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office September 18, 1978 – May 3, 1979
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Gordon L. Bennett
Preceded by	Alexander B. Campbell
Succeeded by	J. Angus MacLean
Member of Parliament for Cardigan
In office April 13, 1981 – September 4, 1984
Preceded by	Daniel J. Macdonald
Succeeded by	Pat Binns
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office September 18, 1978 (interim), December 9, 1978 – April 13, 1981
Preceded by	Alexander B. Campbell
Succeeded by	Gilbert Clements (interim)
MLA (Assemblyman) for 3rd Kings
In office May 11, 1970 – April 13, 1981
Preceded by	Thomas A. Curran
Succeeded by	Joey Fraser
Personal details
Born	(1943-08-27)August 27, 1943 Montague, Prince Edward Island
Died	September 11, 2008(2008-09-11) (aged 65) Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
Other political affiliations	Liberal
Spouse	Margaret Shirley Chiasson ​ ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	Kelly, Colin, Grant, Sherri, Grace, Brad, Carmel, and John Paul
Residence	Cardigan, Prince Edward Island
Alma mater	St. Dunstan’s University
Occupation	Teacher and Civil servant
Profession	Politician
Cabinet	Provincial: Minister of Education (1972–1978) Provincial Secretary (1974–1976) Minister of Finance (1976–1978) Federal: Minister of Veterans Affairs (1981–1984)

William Bennett Campbell, PC (August 27, 1943 – September 11, 2008) was a politician and the 24th Premier of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Born in Montague, Prince Edward Island, Campbell was a teacher by profession before entering politics in 1970 and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island as a Liberal candidate. In 1972, he became Minister of Education; Provincial Secretary in 1974; and Minister of Finance in 1976.

When Liberal leader and PEI Premier Alexander B. Campbell (no relation) announced his retirement, Bennett Campbell ran and won the Liberal leadership and was sworn in as Premier on September 18, 1978.

His government was defeated in the general election held the next year. He remained party leader and leader of the opposition until he decided to enter federal politics. He won the seat for Cardigan in the Canadian House of Commons through a 1981 by-election following the death of Daniel J. Macdonald. He also immediately took over Macdonald's cabinet portfolio and became Minister of Veterans Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He retained his portfolio when John Turner succeeded Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister, but lost his seat to Pat Binns in the 1984 election that brought down the short-lived Turner government.

Campbell died of cancer and is survived by his wife Shirley and eight children.

External links

• Bennett Campbell – Parliament of Canada biography