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Law was born on 16 September 1858 in Kingston (now Rexton), New Brunswick, to the Reverend James Law, a minister of the Free Church of Scotland with Scottish and Irish ancestry, and his wife Eliza Kidston Law.[1] A common misunderstanding is that Law was born in Canada - this is not the case, as at the time New Brunswick was a separate colony, and Canadian Confederation did not occur until 1867.[1] His mother originally wanted to name him after Robert Murray M'Cheyne, a preacher she greatly admired, but as his older brother was already called Robert he was instead named after the Reverend Andrew Bonar, a biographer of M'Cheyne. Throughout his life he was always called Bonar (rhyming with honour) by his family and close friends, never Andrew. He originally signed his name as A.B. Law, changing to A. Bonar Law in his thirties, and he was referred to as Bonar Law by the public as well.[2]

Unfortunately Andrew Bonar Law was not to remain in office for long. At the end of April 1923 health problems were worsening, and doctors advised a sea voyage. Collapse and resignation followed in May. Cancer of the throat was diagnosed, and Bonar Law died on 30th October 1923. He asked for a quiet funeral, a request his colleagues ignored. For the first time since the death of William Gladstone, a prime minister was buried at Westminster Abbey. Herbert Asquith is supposed to have commented on leaving the Abbey: c"It is fitting that we should have buried the unknown prime minister by the side of the Unknown Soldier.

Law, Andrew Bonar - b#x2013;1923, British statesman, b. Canada. He went to Scotland as a boy and in 1900, after a business career, was elected to Parliament as a Conservative. He soon became known as a spokesman for tariff reform. In 1911 he succeeded Arthur Balfour as leader of the Conservative party. Working closely with Sir Edward Carson, he led the fierce opposition to Irish Home Rule that carried Ireland to the brink of civil war. During World War I he was colonial secretary (1915 #x2013;16) in Herbert Asquith's coalition cabinet and then (1916) became chancellor of the exchequer and leader of the House of Commons under David Lloyd George. He resigned party leadership in 1921, but in 1922 he returned to politics to lead the Conservative revolt against the continuation of the wartime coalition. He became (Oct., 1922) prime minister but had to resign the following May because of ill health.