Benjamin Sulte
Benjamin Sulte was a Canadian poet, journalist, and historian born on September 17, 1841, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. After losing his father at a young age, he left school to support his family and held various jobs, which sparked his passion for literature and poetry. Sulte served in the army starting in 1861 and later moved to Ottawa, where he became the editor of the journal Le Canada and began writing for the House of Commons. He dedicated much of his life to studying and writing about the history of his hometown, producing works such as "Les Marchés de la ville de Trois-Rivières" and "Histoire de la ville des Trois-Rivières et de ses environs," although these initially had limited commercial success.
Sulte is particularly noted for his major historical work, "Histoire des Canadiens-Français 1608-1880," published in 1882, which stirred controversy due to its critiques of the Jesuits. His writing, often rich in detail, led to his recognition as a significant historian, earning him an honorary degree from the University of Toronto in 1916. Throughout his lifetime, he published over 3,500 articles and numerous books, contributing extensively to Canadian historiography. Although his poetry reflected a strong sense of patriotism, it is generally viewed as too didactic for modern tastes, while his historical writings remain influential in the study of Canadian history. Sulte passed away in 1923, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship that sparked interest in Canada's past.
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Benjamin Sulte
- Born: September 17, 1841
- Birthplace: Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Died: August 6, 1923
Biography
Poet, journalist, and historian Benjamin Sulte was born on September 17, 1841, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. His father, a navigator, died in 1847, causing Sulte to leave school in 1851 to help support his mother. He held numerous jobs, working as a police officer, accountant, and bookkeeper. During this time he developed a passion for literature and poetry. He joined the army in 1861 and continued to contribute articles to newspapers. In 1866, after his stint in the military, he moved to Ottawa, where he briefly served as editor of the journal Le Canada. In 1867, he began writing and translating for the House of Commons. He later transferred to the newly established Department of Militia and Defense, where he worked until he retired in 1903. In 1871, he married he married Augustine Parent, the daughter of Étienne Parent, then under-secretary of state. The couple had no surviving children.
Sulte spent his evenings studying and writing. He devoted special attention to the history of his hometown, Trois- Rivières, writing two books about it, Les Marchés de la ville de Trois-Rivières (1868) and Histoire de la ville des Trois-Rivières et de ses environs (1870). While the books found few buyers, the citizens of Trois-Rivières came to appreciate Sulte’s efforts and asked for his portrait for the gallery built to honor prominent citizens. In time, he earned a reputation as a historian and was asked to give lectures. In 1916, Sulte was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Toronto.
He wrote numerous works in both English and French; his major work was Histoire des Canadiens-Français 1608-1880: Origine, histoire, religion, guerres, découvertes, colonisation, coutumes, vie domestique, sociale, et politique, développement, avenir, published in 1882. The study caused much controversy because of its criticism of the Jesuits. Later critics would focus on the work’s lack of synthesis and its chaotic presentation of events. Most scholars agree that Sulte’s strength lies in less ambitious works in which he gave free rein to his love of detail. A collection of his shorter pieces can be found in Mélanges d’histoire et de littérature (1876) and in the twenty-one-volume Mélanges historiques: Études éparses et inédites (1918-1934), edited by Sulte’s disciple, Gérard Malchelosse, which includes several short studies, a few of them in English, on subjects as diverse as the seigneurial system, the politicians George-Étienne Cartier and Louis-Joseph Papineau, the history of Trois-Rivières, and the history of maple syrup. In addition to historical writings, Sulte wrote poetry that expressed his patriotic feelings for his homeland.
By the time Sulte died in 1923, he had published more than thirty-five hundred articles and a long list of books. While his short stories may have a more lasting place in Canadian literature, it is the general opinion of scholars that his poems are likely too didactic to appeal to the modern reader’s tastes. Sulte is best remembered as a historian who contributed greatly to historiography in Canada by unearthing a tremendous amount of historical information and stimulating interest in the past.