Maryon Pearson
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'''Maryon Pearson''' (born [[1901]], [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]] - died [[December 26]] [[1989]], [[Toronto, Ontario]]) was the wife of [[Lester Bowles Pearson]], the 14th Prime Minister of Canada.
Born as '''Maryon Elspeth Moody''', she and Lester Pearson married on [[August 22]] [[1925]]. They met at the [[University of Toronto]], where he was a teacher and she was a student.
Maryon Pearson was also known for her sharp tongued wit. [[John English]] in his biography, ''Shadow of Heaven: The Life of Lester Pearson'', devoted a full chapter to the subject of Mrs. Pearson's prickly personality. Among her most famous quotations:
* ''"Behind every successful man, there stands a surprised woman."''
* [On the retired former prime minister's greater time at home]: ''"I married him for better or worse. I didn't marry him for lunch."''
* [On being asked during an election campaign by a reporter, ''"Is there anything you'd like to bring up, Mrs. Pearson?"] "Yes, three doughnuts and six cups of coffee."''
* ''"We lost everything. We even won our own constituency."''
* ''"The big problem is to find suitable hats. I don't care for them all that much, but you have to wear them in politics."''
See also: [[Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada]].
==Children==
They had one son, [[Geoffrey Pearson|Geoffrey]], and one daughter, Patricia. Geoffrey is married to former Canadian [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] [[Landon Pearson]]. Geoffrey and Landon Pearson's daughter is ''[[National Post]]'' journalist [[Patricia Pearson]] (not to be confused with her aunt, of the same name, who did not maintain a public career).
==References==
English, John. ''Shadow of Heaven: The Life of Lester Pearson''. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1989 (ISBN 0-88619-169-6).
{{start box}}
{{succession box|
before=[[Olive Diefenbaker|Olive Freeman Diefenbaker]]|
title=[[Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada|Spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada]]|
years=1963-1968|
after=[[Margaret Trudeau|Margaret Sinclair Trudeau]]
}}
{{end box}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, Maryon}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing]]
[[Category:People from Toronto]]
[[Category:People from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]