Profile Text
Birth Name: Robert Lorne Stanfield
Date of Birth: April 11, 1914
Place of Birth: Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date of Death: December 16, 2003
Place of Death: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ethnicity: English, Irish/Northern Irish/Anglo-Irish, Welsh, distant French
Robert Stanfield was a Canadian politician. He was Premier of Nova Scotia, from November 20, 1956 to September 13, 1967. Federally, he was Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, from September 9, 1967 to February 21, 1976, and Leader of the Opposition, from November 9, 1967 to February 21, 1976; as well as, a Member of Parliament for Colchester—Hants, and then for Halifax (NS), cumulatively, from November 6, 1967 to May 21, 1979.
Robert was the son of Sarah Emma (Thomas) and Frank Stanfield, an entrepreneur and politician, who was Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, from November 19, 1930 to September 25, 1931. His uncle was politician and industrialist John Stanfield, who was also a Member of Parliament for Colchester (NC), from November 28, 1907 to December 16, 1917, and Senator for Colchester, from February 17, 1921 to January 22, 1934. His brother was businessperson and politician Frank Thomas Stanfield, who was also a Member of Parliament for Colchester—Hants (NC), from 11 June, 1945 to 9 August, 1953.
Robert was married to Joyce Frazee, until her death; then to Mary Hall, until her death; and then to Anne Austin, until his death. He had four children with Joyce.
Robert’s paternal grandfather was named Charles Edward Stanfield. Charles was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. He established the Stanfield Mills in Truro, which became garment manufacturer Stanfield’s Limited, later Stanfield’s, run by Robert’s father and uncle John.
Robert’s paternal grandmother was Lydia Dawson (the daughter of Samuel Edward Dawson and Jane Lord). Lydia was born on West River, Queens, Prince Edward Island. Samuel was born in Ireland, with roots in Monaghan, and was the son of Thomas Dawson and Elizabeth Frances Tate. Jane was born on Tryon, the daughter of John Lord, who was English, and of Charlotte Gouldrup, whose father was English, from Pentham Parish, Kent.
Robert’s maternal grandfather was named David John Thomas. David was born in Carmarthen, Wales.
Robert’s maternal grandmother was Rowena Crowe (the daughter of Thomas A. Crowe and Sarah Barnhill). Rowena was born in Belmont, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia. Thomas was the son of Joseph Crowe, whose father was from Londonderry, Ireland, and whose mother was from County Donegal, Ireland; and of Mary Jane Vance. Sarah was the daughter of Alexander Barnhill, whose parents were from Donegal and Londonderry, Ireland, and of Elizabeth M. Davison.
Sources: Genealogy of Robert Stanfield – https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Robert Stanfield (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com