Peter McArthur
Peter McArthur was a renowned Canadian poet and journalist, born in 1866 in Ekfrid Township, Ontario. The son of Scottish immigrants, he received his early education in public schools before pursuing higher education at Strathroy Collegiate Institute and University College in Toronto. Transitioning from a brief teaching career, McArthur began his journalism journey in 1889 at the Toronto Mail, later moving to New York City, where he worked with various prestigious publications including the New York Sun and The Atlantic Monthly.
In 1895, he became editor-in-chief of Truth magazine and married Mabel C. Waters, with whom he had five children. McArthur spent two years in London, contributing to notable periodicals like Punch, before returning to New York and eventually establishing a publishing firm. His literary contributions included the 1907 poetry collection, "The Prodigal and Other Poems." After financial setbacks, he returned to Ontario, where he founded "Ourselves: A Magazine for Cheerful Canadians," known for its insightful political and literary essays. His rural sketches, filled with humor and wisdom, gained widespread popularity, culminating in the successful book "In Pastures Green." McArthur passed away in 1924, celebrated as one of Canada's prominent literary figures.
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Peter McArthur
Writer
- Born: March 10, 1866
- Birthplace: Ekfrid Township, Ontario, Canada
- Died: October 28, 1924
Biography
Peter McArthur, a twentieth century poet and journalist, was born in 1866 in Ekfrid Township, Ontario, Canada. His parents were Peter and Catherine McArthur, immigrants from Scotland. During his childhood, McArthur attended public schools and worked on his father’s farm. At the age of twenty, he left the farm in order to receive a higher education at Strathroy Collegiate Institute and University College in Toronto.
After graduating from college, McArthur served for a short time as a public school teacher. In 1889, he left teaching to pursue a career in journalism. He obtained his first journalism job at the Toronto Mail. McArthur only remained at the Toronto Mail for a year before leaving Canada and moving to the United States. He settled in New York City. During his first five years in New York, McArthur worked as a freelance journalist. He contributed to numerous publications including the Detroit Free Press, New York Sun, Harpers Monthly, and The Atlantic Monthly.
In 1895 he joined the staff of Truth magazine and within six months was promoted to the position of editor-in- chief. At this time, McArthur met and married his wife, Mabel C. Waters. The couple had four sons and one daughter. In 1902, McArthur relocated to London, England, where he contributed articles to the periodicals Punch and Review of Reviews. McArthur remained in London for two years before returning to New York and becoming a partner at the commercial publishing firm McArthur & Ryder. While at the firm, McArthur published his first book of verse in 1907, The Prodigal and Other Poems.
In 1908, after his firm underwent financial difficulty, McArthur moved his family back to his farm in Ontario, Canada. At this time, McArthur started a magazine titled Ourselves: A Magazine for Cheerful Canadians. This magazine became known for its political and literary essays. McArthur remained on the family farm throughout his later years. He continued to run his magazine and work as a freelance writer. His most popular works were his rural sketches of the Canadian countryside, which were written with a wry sense of humor and wisdom that attracted a large audience of readers. These rural sketches were syndicated in the Toronto Globe for more than fifteen years. Many of these essays were later collected into the widely sold book titled In Pastures Green. McArthur, who was celebrated as one of Canada’s greatest literary figures, died from a heart attack in 1924 at the age of fifty-eight.