J. L. Ralston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 4th Minister of National Defence | |
| In office July 5, 1940 – November 1, 1944 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Charles Power |
| Succeeded by | Andrew McNaughton |
| In office October 8, 1926 – August 6, 1930 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | James Robb |
| Succeeded by | Donald Matheson Sutherland |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office September 6, 1939 – July 4, 1940 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Charles Avery Dunning |
| Succeeded by | James Lorimer Ilsley |
| Minister of Pensions and National Health | |
| In office June 19, 1930 – August 6, 1930 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | James King |
| Succeeded by | Murray MacLaren |
| Member of Parliament for Prince | |
| In office January 2, 1940 – June 10, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred Edgar MacLean |
| Succeeded by | John Watson MacNaught |
| Member of Parliament for Shelburne—Yarmouth | |
| In office November 2, 1926 – October 13, 1935 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Hatfield |
| Succeeded by | Riding merged into Shelburne—Yarmouth—Clare |
| MLA for Cumberland | |
| In office June 14, 1911 – July 26, 1920 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua H. Livingstone |
| Succeeded by | Archibald Terris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 27, 1881 Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | May 22, 1948 (aged 66) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Branch/service | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1916-1924 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
James Layton Ralston PC, CMG, DSO & Bar, KC (September 27, 1881 – May 22, 1948) was a Canadian lawyer, soldier, and politician. A Nova Scotian and a lawyer by training, Ralston fought with distinction during the First World War and pursued a career in the Canadian Army, before becoming a Liberal Member of Parliament. During the Second World War, he served as Minister of National Defence from 1940 to 1944, when he was forced to resign by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King because of his support for the introduction of conscription.