The first three leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada were not chosen at a convention. Alexander Mackenzie (March 1873 - April 1880) and Edward Blake (May 1880 - June 1887) were chosen by the party caucus. Wilfrid Laurier (June 1887 - February 1919) was also chosen by caucus members with the party convention of 1893 ratifying his leadership.

The first Liberal leadership convention was held on August 7, 1919. Balloting continued until one candidate won a majority of votes. After the 1919 convention, a system was adopted where the candidate with the least number of votes on a given ballot is automatically dropped. More recently, any candidate with less than 5% of the vote on the first ballot is also automatically dropped. Since 1919, time has also been given between ballots for candidates to announce if they wish to withdraw and throw their support to another candidate.

1919 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on August 7, 1919

First Ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 344 
FIELDING, William Stevens 297 
GRAHAM, George Perry 153 
MCKENZIE, Daniel Duncan 153 
Total Votes Cast 947

Second Ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 411 
FIELDING, William Stevens 344 
GRAHAM, George Perry 124 
MCKENZIE, Daniel Duncan 60 
Total Votes Cast 939

Graham withdrew while voting for the third ballot was underway while McKenzie withdrew while voting for the fourth ballot was in process. Votes were not counted and the convention proceeded directly to the fifth ballot.

Fifth Ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 476 
FIELDING, William Stevens 438 
Total Votes Cast 914

1948 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on August 7, 1948

First Ballot
ST. LAURENT, Louis Stephen 848 
GARDINER, James Garfield 323
POWER, Charles Gavan 56 
Total Votes Cast 1,227

1958 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on January 16, 1958

First Ballot
PEARSON, Lester Bowles 1,074 
MARTIN, Paul Joseph James 305 
HENDERSON, Harold Lloyd 1 
Total Votes Cast 1,380

1968 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on April 6, 1968

First Ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 752
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 330
WINTERS, Robert Henry 293
MARTIN, Paul Joseph James 277
TURNER, John Napier 277
GREENE, John James 169
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph 163
KIERANS, Eric William 103
HENDERSON, Harold Lloyd 0
Spoiled Ballots 24
Total Votes Cast 2,390 (Interestingly, Henderson was not himself a registered delegate, but his wife was.)

Second Ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 964
WINTERS, Robert Henry 473
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 465
TURNER, John Napier 347
GREENE, John James 104
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph 11
Spoiled Ballots 15
Total Votes Cast 2,379
MacEachan announced after the first ballot that he was withdrawing and would support Trudeau but he missed the deadline to remove his name from the ballot.

Third Ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 1,051
WINTERS, Robert Henry 621
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 377
TURNER, John Napier 279
GREENE, John James 29
Spoiled Ballots 19
Total Votes Cast 2376

Fourth Ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 1,203
WINTERS, Robert Henry 954
TURNER, John Napier 195
Spoiled Ballots 13
Total Votes Cast 2,365

1984 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on June 16, 1984

First Ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,593
CHRÉTIEN, Jean Joseph Jacques 1067
JOHNSTON, Donald James 278 
ROBERTS, John (Moody) 185
MACGUIGAN, Mark R. 135 
MUNRO, John Carr 93 
WHELAN, Eugene Francis 84 
Spoiled Ballots 2 
Total Votes Cast 3,437

Second Ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,862
CHRÉTIEN, Jean Joseph Jacques 1,398
JOHNSTON, Donald James 192 
Spoiled Ballots 1 
Total Votes Cast 3,423

1990 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Calgary, Alberta on June 23, 1990

First Ballot
CHRÉTIEN, Jean Joseph Jacques 2,652
MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe 1176 
COPPS, Sheila Maureen 499 
WAPPEL, Thomas (Tom) William 267 
NUNZIATA, John V. 64 
Spoiled Ballots 10 
Total Votes Cast 4,668

2003 Leadership Convention Results

Held in Toronto, Ontario on November 14, 2003

First Ballot
MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe ,3242
COPPS, Sheila Maureen 211
Spoiled Ballots 2
Total Votes Cast 3,455

Source: Parliament of Canada website (http:/www.parl.gc.ca)