Ralph Connor
Ralph Connor, the pen name of Charles William Gordon, was a Canadian author and Presbyterian minister born in 1860. Raised as the son of a minister, he pursued higher education at the University of Toronto and Knox College, later studying at the University of Edinburgh. Ordained in 1890, Connor served as a missionary in Western Canada, where he engaged with mining and lumbering communities before taking on a pastoral role at St. Stephen's Church in Winnipeg. His literary career flourished with novels that reflected his missionary experiences, often emphasizing themes of Christian triumph over adversity. Among his notable works are "The Man from Glengarry" and "Glengarry School Days." During World War I, he also contributed as a Protestant chaplain, actively participating in fundraising efforts. Despite being best known for his popular novels, contemporary scholars often examine his works for their representation of middle-class Protestant values. Connor's autobiography was published posthumously in 1938, adding to his legacy as a significant figure in Canadian literature.
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Ralph Connor
Author
- Born: September 13, 1860
- Birthplace: Glengarry, Ontario, Canada
- Died: October 31, 1937
- Place of death: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Biography
Ralph Connor, the pseudonym for Charles William Gordon, was born in Glengarry County, Canada, in 1860. The son of a Presbyterian minister, Connor graduated from the University of Toronto, studied theology at Knox College, and attended the University of Edinburgh. In 1890, Connor was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. For several years he served as a missionary in Western Canada, serving among the mining and lumbering camps. He later accepted a position as the minister at St. Stephen’s church in Winnipeg, Ontario.
During World War I, Connor served as a Protestant chaplain to the 43rd Highlanders regiment. Connor was a tireless campaigner, and often participated in fund-raising engagements and speaking tours throughout the conflict. He married Helen King in 1898, and they had seven children.
Connor’s early novels were based on his experiences as a missionary in the rugged western frontiers of Canada. His novels were often about the triumph of Christianity over adversity, where good confronted evil. Connor’s best known novels are The Man from Glengarry: A Tale of the Ottawa (1901), Glengarry School Days: A Story of Early Days in Glengarry (1902), and The Foreigner: A Tale of Saskatchewan (1909).
Throughout his lifetime, Connor was a best-selling author, and his work never lacked audience. Present-day scholars study Connor not so much for his craftsmanship as for his distinctly middle- class Protestant attitudes. Connor’s autobiography, Postscript to Adventure, was posthumously published in 1938.