Former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner has died at the age of 91 after just 79 days in office, leading his Liberal Party to a major defeat in 1984.

He trained as a lawyer and served as Justice and later Minister of Finance from 1968-1975. He resigned following an argument with party leader Pierre Trudeau.

Turner resumed his legal activities and regained party leadership nine years later.

Observers say he called an election one of the worst campaigns in Canadian history.

His party did worse than expected from opinion polls, which saw them at gaining about 40 seats in the 282-member House of Commons.

The Conservatives, led by Brian Mulroney, won 211 seats.

Despite the result, Turner hung on to his post. In the 1988 election, Turner was a strong contender for a free trade agreement with the US, but lost again to Mulroni, but not so badly.

In 1990, the Liberal leader resigned.

As Minister of Justice, he defended amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada that paved the way for LGBTQ rights and legal abortion. But the global oil crisis has put financial pressure on the finance ministry.

His 79-day term as prime minister is the second shortest in the country’s history.

Turner died Friday night at his home in TorontoMark Kaylee, a former aide who spoke on behalf of relatives, told the Montreal Gazette. Wife: Giles and four children.