Edgar Benson

Edgar Benson
Benson, c. 1968
Minister of National Defence
In office
January 28, 1972 – August 31, 1972
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byDonald Macdonald
Succeeded byJean-Eudes Dubé (acting)
Minister of Finance
In office
April 20, 1968 – January 28, 1972
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byMitchell Sharp
Succeeded byJohn Turner
President of the Treasury Board
In office
October 1, 1966 – July 5, 1968
Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson
Pierre Trudeau
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byCharles Drury
Minister of National Revenue
In office
June 29, 1964 – January 17, 1968
Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson
Preceded byGeorge McIlraith (acting)
Succeeded byJean Chrétien
Member of Parliament
for Kingston (1962–1968);
Kingston and the Islands (1968–1972)
In office
June 18, 1962 – October 29, 1972
Preceded byBenjamin Graydon Allmark
Succeeded byFlora MacDonald
Personal details
Born
Edgar John Benson

(1923-05-28)May 28, 1923
Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
DiedSeptember 2, 2011(2011-09-02) (aged 88)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeBeechwood Cemetery
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Marie Louise van Laer (1946–1974)
Mary Jane Binks (1987–2011)
Alma materQueen's University
ProfessionChartered Accountant
Military service
Branch/service Canadian Army
Years of service1941–1946
Rank Sergeant
Unit1st Survey Regiment, RCA
I Canadian Corps

Edgar John "Ben" Benson PC FCA (May 28, 1923 – September 2, 2011) was a Canadian politician, businessman, diplomat, and university professor. He held four cabinet posts, most notably that of Minister of Finance under Pierre Trudeau, where he was instrumental in reforming Canada's income tax law.[1] He was described as "Pierre Trudeau's unflappable finance minister, the pipe-smoking financial wizard who raised the ire of corporate Canada in the 1970s by bringing in a capital gains tax."[1]