Vincent as Pius VIl - 1924 aS, In 1918, at age 31, Vincent was appointed Associate Secretary to the War Committee of Cabinet in Ottawa. In 1920, he was selected as a governor of the University of Toronto. He was also very involved as an actor and director in the Hart House Theatre, which he had created. In 1921 Vincent was elected president of Massey-Harris and served in that position until October 1925. Vincent, a Liberal Party supporter, was interested in a political career. In September 1925 Prime Minister Mackenzie King appointed him to the federal cabinet and he was nominated as a Liberal candidate. His political support for reduced tariffs on imported farm machinery was met by opposition from Massey-Harris shareholders and led to his resignation as company president in October 1925. Vincent with W. L. M. King & Sir Esme Howard in Washington © Gi F ne te Vincent with Preside es) Sb aoe, lig +e des” ¢ § y 4 nt Coolidge in Waghingtonyl?hs’ | pws. d 4, ‘ t f \ or tonal er. Yor: a Vincent was defeated in the 1925 election. Following the subsequent election in 1926, he was named as the first Canadian “Minister” to Washington and served there from 1927 until 1930. All Canadian interests in Washington had previously been looked after by the British Ambassador. In 1935 he was appointed by Prime Minister King as Canadian High Commissioner in London. Vincent and Alice were perfectly suited to their roles, and they served in London until 1946. Both of them loved English traditions and values and the country life. They also enjoyed: hosting a wide variety of guests. Their term started during the increasingly tense years leading up to World War Two. Once war started.in 1939 they had to endure the resultant hardships for six years, including intense German. bombing. | As a oll . mY 5 cs ] ee