Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau was born in Montreal, Quebec, on October 18, 1919. His father, Charles-Émile Trudeau, was a successful businessman and his mother, Grace Elliott, was an heiress. The Trudeau family got their money from Montreal's timber and fur trade businesses.

Trudeau was educated at the prestigious Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. He then studied law at the Université de Montréal and political science at Harvard University.

Trudeau's relationship with Lester B Pearson began when they were both young men working in Ottawa. Trudeau was a civil servant, and Pearson was a diplomat. They bonded over their love of politics and hatred of the day's Conservative government.

In 1965, Pearson was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and became prime minister. Trudeau became his close adviser and friend.

Trudeau became the party's leader in 1968; he won on the third ballot and became the Prime Minister of Canada in 1968.

As a minister, Trudeau was responsible for sweeping changes to Canada's criminal code, including decriminalizing homosexuality and abortion.

During his time as Prime Minister, Trudeau helped to solidify Canada's status as an independent nation. He also put forth policies that aimed to improve the lives of all Canadians, regardless of their background or station in life.

Some of Trudeau's significant achievements include the creation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the official recognition of both English and French as Canada's official languages, and the implementation of a universal healthcare system.

Trudeau was also embroiled in several controversies during his time as Prime Minister. These include the 1970 October Crisis, in which he invoked the War Measures Act to deal with a separatist terrorist group, and the 1980 National Energy Program, which aimed to increase government control over the energy sector but ended up alienating many Western Canadians.

Despite these controversies, Trudeau is considered one of the most influential Prime Ministers in Canadian history. He served for over 15 years, and his legacy continues to shape the country today.