Known primarily for his pioneering work in the development of a social welfare system for Canada, Leonard Charles Marsh was born in England and graduated from the London School of Economics in 1928. After undertaking surveys of wages and housing in London and conducting research for Sir William Beveridge, he became Director of Social Research at McGill University in 1930 and held this position until 1941. While at McGill he studied the multi-faceted problems created by the Depression, particularly unemployment. In 1941, he became Research Advisor to the Dominion Committee on Reconstruction. In this capacity Marsh directed studies on post-war reconstruction for Canada, one of which gave rise to the famous Report on Social Security for Canada (1943). Marsh joined UBC's School of Social Work in 1947, becoming Director of Research in 1959. In 1964, he joined the Faculty of Education as professor of Educational Sociology. He held this position until his retirement in 1972, whereupon he was made Professor Emeritus of Education. During his life Marsh published numerous
monographs, articles, and pamphlets reflecting his concern about resolving problems of both national and international nature.