William Douw Lighthall
William Douw Lighthall was a notable Canadian author, poet, and lawyer, born into a family with a strong legal background in Montreal. He pursued his education at McGill University, initially studying medicine before shifting his focus to law, ultimately earning both his bachelor and master degrees in this field. Lighthall had a successful legal career and led the firm Lighthall and Harwood. He engaged actively in public service, serving as the Mayor of Westmount from 1900 to 1903 and co-founding the Union of Canadian Municipalities in 1901.
Lighthall's literary contributions include the anthology "Songs of the Great Dominion" published in 1889, which is often cited as his most significant work. Prior to this, he published a book of poetry and a novel under a pseudonym. He was also recognized for his historical writings and was elected to the Royal Society of Canada, where he later served as president. Beyond his literary and legal pursuits, Lighthall was involved in various cultural organizations, including a presidency role in the Canadian Authors' Association in 1930. His diverse achievements reflect a commitment to both the arts and civic duty in Canada.
On this Page
Subject Terms
William Douw Lighthall
Author
- Born: December 27, 1857
- Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Died: 1954
Biography
Author, poet, and lawyer William Douw Lighthall was born the son of William Francis Schuyler Lighthall, a respected notary public in Montreal, and Margaret Wright McIntryre. He attended high school in Montreal, graduating in 1874, and McGill University, from which he received his bachelor of arts degree with honors in 1879. Though he initially pursued medical studies, Lighthall changed course and began studying law; he received his bachelor of civil laws degree in 1881 and then his master of arts degree in 1885. Lighthall was highly successful as a practicing attorney and eventually headed the firm Lighthall and Harwood.
Lighthall married Cybel Charlotte Wilkes on October 1, 1890, in Montreal, and the couple had three children: Alice Margaret Schuyler Lighthall, Cybel Katharine Schuyler Lighthall, and William Wilkes Schuyler Lighthall. He involved himself deeply in city politics, helping to found the Union of Canadian Municipalities in 1901, during his term as Mayor of Westmount in Quebec from 1900 to 1903. Two years after his mayoral term ended, Lighthall was elected to the Royal Society of Canada; he would become the society’s president in 1918.
Though Lighthall may be best remembered for the anthology he edited in 1889, Songs of the Great Dominion: Voices from the Forests and Waters, the Settlements and Cities of Canada, he had by this time already published a book of poetry, Thoughts, Moods, and Ideals (1887), and a successful novel under the pseudonym Wilfrid Châteauclair: The Young Seigneur: Or, Nation-Making—A Romance (1888). A volume of his collected verse appeared in 1922. He also worked as a historian and chronicler, contributing Montreal After 250 Years in 1892 and Canada: A Modern Nation in 1904. Lighthall was a member and officer in various organizations and societies over the years, including the Canadian Authors’ Association, over which he presided over as president in 1930.