The Right Honourable Jean Chretien was born in Shawinigan, Quebec on January 11, 1934, the son of Wellie Chretien and Marie Boisvert-Chretien.

After attending schools in Shawinigan, Joliette and Trois-Rivieres, he studied law at Laval University.

He was called to the Bar in 1958 and joined the law firm of Chretien, Landry, Deschenes, Trudel and Normand, in Shawinigan. He served as Director of the Bar of Trois-Rivieres in 1962-63.

Mr. Chretien was first elected to the House of Commons in 1963 representing the constituency of St-Maurice-Lafleche. He was reelected in 1965.

In July 1965, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and in January 1966, to the Minister of Finance. On April 4, 1967 he became Minister of State attached to the Minister of Finance and on January 18, 1968 he was appointed Minister of National Revenue.

He was returned to the House in the June 25, 1968 election, representing the new constituency of St-Maurice. On July 6, 1968 he was sworn in as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and remained in that post until August 8, 1974 when he was appointed President of the Treasury Board subsequent to his re-election one month earlier.

He was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce on September 14, 1976 and one year later, on September 16, 1977 became Minister of Finance. He held that Cabinet post until June 4, 1979. Mr. Chretien was returned to the House of Commons for a sixth consecutive term in the May 22, 1979 election.

After being re-elected with an unprecedented majority on February 18, 1980, he was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of State for Social Development on March 3, 1980. At this time, Mr. Chretien was given the additional task of Minister responsible for constitutional negotiations. On September 10, 1982 he was appointed Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.

On June 16, 1984 Mr. Chretian was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for External Affairs on June 30, 1984. In the September 4, 1984 election, he was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for St-Maurice and as a member of the Opposition was appointed Critic for External Affairs.

Mr. Chretien resigned from the House of Commons on February 27, 1986.

From March 1986 to June 1990 he was a Counsel with the law firm of Lang Michener Lawrence and Shaw with offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. He was also a Senior Advisor with Gordon Capital Corporation in Montreal.

In 1981, he received an Honourary Degree of Laws from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. He also received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws, in 1982 from Laurentian University of Sudbury and the University of Western Ontario; in 1986, from York University Glendon College in Toronto; in 1987, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton; and in 1988, from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

On June 23, 1990, Mr. Chretien was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

He was elected Member of Parliament in the December 10, 1990 by-election in the riding of Beausejour (New Brunswick) the Opposition in the House of Commons on December 21, 1990.

He was re-elected Member of Parliament for the riding of St-Maurice on October 25, 1993 when his party won a majority of seats in the House of Commons. He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada on November 4, 1993.

Mr. Chretien married Aline Chaine of Shawinigan in 1957. They have three children; France, Hubert and Michel.