Robert James Manion

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The Honourable Robert James Manion PC MC
Leader of the Opposition
In office November 14, 1938 – March 25, 1940
Preceded by	R. B. Bennett
Succeeded by	Richard Hanson (acting)
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office July 7, 1938 – May 13, 1940
Preceded by	R. B. Bennett
Succeeded by	Richard Hanson (acting)
Member of Parliament for London
In office November 14, 1938 – March 25, 1940
Preceded by	Frederick Cronyn Betts
Succeeded by	Allan Johnston
Member of Parliament for Fort William (Fort William and Rainy River; 1917–1925)
In office December 17, 1917 – October 13, 1935
Preceded by	Riding created
Succeeded by	Dan McIvor
Personal details
Born	(1881-11-19)November 19, 1881 Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
Died	July 2, 1943(1943-07-02) (aged 61) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Conservative
Other political affiliations	Unionist (1917-1921)
Spouse	Yvonne Desaulniers ​ (m. 1906)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Queen's University, Kingston Ontario and at the University of Edinburgh
Occupation	Physician
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Canadian Army
Years of service	1916-1918
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War I

Robert James Manion PC MC (November 19, 1881 – July 2, 1943) was a Canadian politician who led the Conservative Party of Canada from 1938 to 1940. Prior to his leadership of the party, he served in Prime Minister Arthur Meighen and R. B. Bennett's cabinets.

A Liberal prior to World War I, Manion was elected to the House of Commons in 1917 as a member of the pro-conscription Unionist Party led by Prime Minister Robert Borden. After the war, he served as a Conservative Member of Parliament until his defeat in 1935. In 1938, Manion was elected leader of the Conservatives, which was shortly relabeled as National Government. Despite his pro-conscription stance in World War I, Manion campaigned against conscription in World War II in the 1940 federal election. Manion also ran on a platform of forming a wartime coalition national unity government. In the election, the National Government lost in a landslide, keeping their seat count exactly the same as in the 1935 federal election. Manion also lost his seat of London, and subsequently resigned as leader. Shortly after, Manion was appointed director of Civilian Air Raid Defence. He died in 1943 in Ottawa.