Earl Lawson

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James Earl Lawson, PC (October 21, 1891 – May 13, 1950) was a Canadian politician and lawyer.

James Earl Lawson was a candidate for the leadership of the Ontario Conservative Party in 1920 but was defeated by George Howard Ferguson. He moved on to federal politics and was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative MP in a 1928 by-election. Lawson was appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett in August 1935 as Minister of National Revenue. He lost this position when the Conservatives were defeated in the fall 1935 election. He was the "old guard" candidate at the 1938 Conservative leadership convention but placed last after many of his delegates decided to support Murdoch Alexander Macpherson in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Robert James Manion from becoming leader.

Lawson also twice ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Ontario. He lost in 1920 to George Ferguson. In 1938, several months following his failed attempt to win the federal leadership, he placed second to George Drew at the Ontario party's leadership convention.

Lawson retired from the House of Commons in 1940, but remained active in the party. He was the mover of the successful 1942 motion to change the name of the Conservative Party to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.