Gordon Daniel Conant (1885-1953) was Ontario's Attorney-General during the government of Mitchell Hepburn who he succeeded as Premier. Hepburn resigned suddenly, in October 1942, due to his feud with Prime MinisterWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King that split Hepburn's cabinet and threatened the unity of his party. Hepburn announced that he was remaining leader of the party and selected Conant as the new Premier. The party, led by King's supporters, demanded a leadership convention and Conant and Hepburn were forced to acquiesce resulting in the election of Harry Nixon as the new Liberal leader and Premier in 1943.
