William Henry Drummond
William Henry Drummond was an Irish-born Canadian poet and physician, born on April 13, 1854, in County Leitrim, Ireland. He immigrated to Canada in 1864, where he pursued education in Montreal, eventually graduating from Bishop's College with a medical degree in 1884. Drummond practiced medicine in rural Quebec, where he developed a deep appreciation for the local French Canadian culture, which significantly influenced his literary work. He is best known for his poetry, particularly his first collection, "The Habitant," published in 1897, and his subsequent works that often employed a unique French-English dialect reflective of the region. Beyond his literary achievements, Drummond was involved in teaching and managing his family's silver mines. He gained recognition as one of the most popular poets of his time, becoming a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and receiving honorary degrees from notable universities. Drummond passed away on April 6, 1907, and his complete Poetical Works were published posthumously in 1912, solidifying his legacy in Canadian literature.
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William Henry Drummond
Poet
- Born: April 13, 1854
- Birthplace: County Leitrim, Ireland
- Died: April 6, 1907
Biography
William Henry Drummond was born on April 13, 1854, in county Leitrim, Ireland, to George and Elizabeth Drummond. In 1864, he immigrated with his family to Canada, where he attended a private school in Montreal before graduating from Montreal High School in 1876. Drummond went on to study at McGill University, and he graduated with an M.D. from Bishop’s College in 1884. For many years, he practiced medicine in rural communities in Quebec province, where he became acquainted with the French Canadians who resided in this region. He wrote about these people, their tales, and their legends in some of his most well-known poems, which he wrote in their unique French-English dialect. During this time, Drummond also taught classes and managed his family’s silver mines in Ontario.
He moved to Montreal in 1888 and married May Isobel Harvey in 1894. Together they had a son, Charles Barclay Drummond, and a daughter, Moira Drummond. His first collection of poetry, The Habitant, was published in 1897. His other works include Johnnie Courteau (1901), The Voyageur (1905), and The Great Fight (1908).
Drummond was one of the most popular poets of his day. In 1899 he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was awarded honorary degrees from the University of Toronto in 1902 and from Bishop’s University in 1905. Drummond died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 6, 1907. His complete Poetical Works were published in 1912.