Edward William Thomson
Edward William Thomson was a prominent Canadian writer known for his contributions to short stories and poetry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on February 12, 1849, in Peel County, Ontario, his works often depicted the experiences and settings of French-Canadian, Irish, and Scottish communities along the Ottawa River. In addition to his literary achievements, Thomson had a diverse career as an engineer, soldier, land surveyor, editor, and journalist, which influenced his writing style and themes.
His early life included a brief stint in the United States, where he enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. After returning to Canada, he pursued a career in land surveying and later shifted to journalism, becoming an editorial writer for the Globe in Toronto. Thomson's literary career took off during his time as an editor for The Youth's Companion in Boston, where he began publishing his own fiction and poetry.
His notable works include "Old Man Savarin, and Other Stories" (1895) and "The Many-Mansioned House, and Other Poems" (1909). Thomson was recognized for his contributions to Canadian literature, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Canada. His legacy lies in his role in shaping a distinct Canadian literary identity.
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Subject Terms
Edward William Thomson
- Born: February 12, 1849
- Birthplace: Peel County, Ontario, Canada
- Died: March 5, 1924
- Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts
Biography
Edward William Thomson was one of the first Canadian writers of short stories. His settings were the French-Canadian, Irish, and Scottish settlements that existed at the end of the nineteenth century along the shores of the Ottawa River. His poetry, nonfiction, and fiction helped frame the Canadian literary consciousness. He was also an engineer, a soldier, a land surveyor, an editor, and a journalist, in addition to writing many books for young men and boys. Thomson’s work reflects his many professional experiences.
Thomson was born on February 12, 1849, in Peel County, Ontario, Canada. His father was William Thomson and his mother was Margaret Hamilton Foley. His ancestors were American loyalists who moved to Canada after the American Revolution. He attended school at Brantford Grammar School and at the Trinity College Grammar School at Weston. When he was fourteen, he was sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to visit with his aunt and uncle; he was given a job at a wholesale mercantile house. After a chance meeting with Abraham Lincoln, in October, 1864, he joined the Union army, serving in the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War, even though he was still a subject of Britain and too young to enlist. His family located him and he was discharged in 1865.
Thomson moved to Chippewa, Canada in later years. He enlisted in the Queen’s Own Rifles, a Canadian militia force, in June, 1866, following a series of Fenian raids into Upper Canada. He became a civil engineer and was registered as a land surveyor in 1872; he remained in this profession until 1878, when he became an editorial writer for the Globe in Toronto. He returned to land surveying in Winnipeg until 1885 when he rejoined the staff of the Globe. He left the newspaper due to his differences in opinion regarding editorial policy in 1891. He relocated to Boston, Massachusetts and joined the staff of The Youth’s Companion as an editor and writer.
Thomson began his career as fiction writer and a poet during his tenure with The Youth’s Companion. He was an editor there until 1901; after this time he continued to work as a newspaper correspondent and wrote poetry. Thomson’s first book, published in 1895, was a collection of short stories titled Old Man Savarin, and Other Stories. His volume The Many-Mansioned House, and Other Poems was published in 1909. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1909 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1910. Thomson contributed to the creation of a unique Canadian literary culture.