Agnes Maule Machar
Agnes Maule Machar was a Canadian author and social activist, born in Kingston, Ontario, in 1837. Growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment, influenced by her father's role as principal of Queen's University, she developed a passion for literature and social reform. Machar gained recognition with her first novel, "Katie Johnstone's Cross: A Canadian Tale," published in 1870, which won a prize for children's Sunday school fiction. Her later works, including "Roland Graeme, Knight: A Novel of Our Time," critically addressed pressing societal issues such as industrialization, women's rights, and workers' conditions, reflecting her advocacy for Christian socialism as an alternative to capitalism.
In addition to her novels, Machar was a versatile writer, producing poetry, biographies, and histories, and she was also an accomplished artist, exhibiting her portraits in the Upper Canadian Provincial Exhibition. Her community respected her contributions, leading to her undertaking the compilation of "The Story of Old Kingston," published in 1908. After her death in 1927, Machar's legacy continued, with her home preserved and a local park named in her honor, signifying her lasting impact on Kingston and her commitment to social change.
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Subject Terms
Agnes Maule Machar
Author
- Born: January 23, 1837
- Birthplace: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Died: January 24, 1927
- Place of death: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Biography
Agnes Maule Machar was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 1837. Her father became the principal of Queen’s University, and she was constantly in contact with professors, poets, and other thinkers. This intellectually strong environment greatly influenced her upbringing.
Her first novel, Katie Johnstone’s Cross: A Canadian Tale, was published in 1870 and was awarded a prize for best children’s Sunday school fiction. Machar was a strong social activist in her community. She wrote a novel, Roland Graeme, Knight: A Novel of Our Time (1982), criticizing industrialization and addressing women’s rights, compulsory education, and work conditions. Some of her other books dealt with religious reform, the evils of capitalism, workers’ conditions, and taxes. Her work suggests a type of Christian socialism as the answer to capitalism.
The town of Kingston knew of Machar’s work and respected her for her literary skills as well as her social criticism. So, when she offered to compile a complete history of the town, the citizens gladly accepted. She published The Story of Old Kingston in 1908.
Machar wrote in a variety of genres, including poetry, novels, histories, biographies, and children’s stories. She also was an artist. She painted several portraits, including those of her parents, which were displayed in the Upper Canadian Provincial Exhibition between 1859 and 1868. Machar died in 1927 and her community immediately felt an impact. Her house would later be preserved, and a park on the town’s west edge was named in her honor.