Henry Thomas Burpee (1885–1972)[1] was elected the first leader of the Communist Party of Canada in May 1921.
He was succeeded in December 1921 by William Moriarty.
[2] As he preferred to take care of less public and more administrative work, he organized a school where immigrants can learn English.
[3] He remained active with the party for the rest of his life and was one of three founding members present at the party's fiftieth anniversary celebration in 1971.
[1]