Today in Canada’s Political History: Queen Victoria passes into history; Mackenzie King watches Laurier’s famous tribute in the Commons

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier delivered a famous eulogy to the fallen Queen. One of those watching Laurier’s speech from the public gallery was a young civil servant named Mackenzie King. He wrote about Laurier’s tribute to the fallen Queen in his diary. “It was a beautiful oration,” King wrote. For Grandfather’s sake I should like to lead, for his sake and the sake of the principles he stood for.”