King was born in Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener), the son of John King, a lawyer and politician, and Isabella Grace Mackenzie. He studied at the University of Toronto and the University of Chicago, where he earned a doctorate in political economy in 1897. After teaching for a few years, he entered politics as a Liberal Party organizer.
King was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1908, representing the riding of Waterloo North. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Liberal Party, and in 1919, he was appointed minister of labour in the government of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
In 1921, King became prime minister after the death of Arthur Meighen. He led the Liberal Party to victory in the 1921 and 1925 federal elections, but was defeated in the 1926 election by Meighen's Conservative Party. King returned to power in the 1935 election, and he led Canada through the Great Depression and the Second World War.
King was a shrewd politician and a skilled negotiator. He was also a strong believer in Canadian autonomy, and he worked to assert Canada's independence from Great Britain. He was also a strong advocate for social welfare programs, and he introduced a number of important reforms, such as the Old Age Pension Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act.
King retired from politics in 1948. He died in Kingsmere, Quebec, on July 22, 1950.
King was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant politician, but he was also a loner who was often uncomfortable in social settings. He was a strong leader, but he was also capable of great indecision. He was a man of great vision, but he was also a pragmatist who was willing to compromise to achieve his goals.
Despite his flaws, King was a great leader who made a significant contribution to Canada. He was a man of intellect, compassion, and vision, and he will be remembered as one of Canada's greatest prime ministers.