John Richardson
John Richardson was a pioneering Canadian novelist, recognized as the first Canadian-born author to gain international fame. Born on October 4, 1796, in Queenston, Ontario, he had a diverse cultural background, with his mother being of Indigenous descent. Richardson's early life included experiences in both Canada and the United States, and he notably served as a soldier in the War of 1812, where he fought alongside Native American leader Tecumseh. After a military career that included time in England and the British West Indies, he returned to Canada in 1838 to pursue writing and journalism.
Richardson's literary contributions primarily focused on the North American frontier, with his most notable work being "Wacousta; Or, The Prophecy," published in 1832. This novel explores themes of betrayal and the harsh realities of life in the wilderness during Pontiac's uprising. Although he attempted to write a history of the War of 1812, he never completed it, and much of his work has since faded from public memory. Despite his struggles with poverty and lack of commercial success, "Wacousta" remains in print and is acknowledged for its historical significance and dramatic adaptation. Richardson passed away in New York City on May 12, 1852, leaving a complex legacy as a writer who sought to depict the tumultuous nature of Canadian identity and history.
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John Richardson
Armed Forces Personnel
- Born: October 4, 1796
- Birthplace: Queenston, Ontario, Canada
- Died: May 12, 1852
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
John Richardson was the first Canadian-born novelist to achieve international recognition. He was born in Queenston, Ontario, located on the Niagara River, on October 4, 1796. His mother, Madelaine, was the daughter of a fur trapper named John Askin and his wife, an Ottawa Indian. His father, Dr. Robert Richardson, was a surgeon attached to the Queen’s Rangers. As a child, he lived for some time with his grandparents in Detroit, Michigan, but later returned to Canada to live with his parents at Fort Malden, Amhertsburg.
When Richardson was fifteen, he enlisted as a gentleman volunteer with the British Forty-First Regiment. He fought for the British forces during the War of 1812, where he fought alongside the well-known Native American fighter Tecumseh. He was captured and imprisoned for a year in the United States. Following the war, Richardson remained in the army for a time. He was later posted to England and he served in the British West Indies for two years. He achieved the rank of major before leaving the military.
In 1838, Richardson returned to Canada from England, and he attempted to earn a living by writing and establishing a series of weekly newspapers. He was appointed as a police superintendent in 1845, but was removed from the post the following year. Four years later, he moved to the United States, where he settled in New York City. Although he continued to write fiction, he was never very successful. He died impoverished in New York City on May 12, 1852.
Richardson began his literary career by writing novels about contemporary British and French society. However, his greatest literary successes were the novels that he wrote about the North American frontier and its recent history. The most famous of these books, Wacousta; Or, The Prophecy was published in 1832. The novel is set during the time of the Native American leader Pontiac’s uprising, and the book relates a complex tale of betrayal and slaughter. The book’s protagonist embodies Richardson’s perception of the terror, uncertainty, and brutality that characterized the Canadian wilderness. The novel’s other protagonist, Colonel De Haldimar, represents the repression, hypocrisy, and evil that was possible within the civilized military garrison.
Richardson also attempted to write a history of the War of 1812, but he never completed the book. His other literary works are now largely forgotten. However, Wacousta is still in print, and was adapted for the stage during Richardson’s lifetime, and later by James Reaney.