What Happened
This 1919 cyclopædia inventories the personal and professional lives of the men who shaped Canada’s early national identity. Editor Hector Charlesworth moves beyond simple political and military lists to include the merchants, scientists, and railway administrators driving the country's industrial expansion. The entries track a generation born in rural townships like Grand Pré or Ancaster who ascended to the boards of the Bank of Montreal or the Premiership in Ottawa. It documents a society defined by Scottish and Loyalist lineages, Presbyterian and Anglican ties, and a shared enthusiasm for new industries like sulphite milling and North-West timber harvesting.
Key figures
- Sir Robert Laird Borden
Prime Minister of Canada and leader through the General Elections of 1911.
- Senator Robertson
Independent Labor Party member who handled operations during labor unrest in Winnipeg.
- Hector Charlesworth
Editor who expanded the series to include commercial and intellectual leaders.
- The Hunter-Rose Company
Toronto-based publishing firm responsible for the National Biographical Series.
- University of New Brunswick
Educational institution that granted degrees to several featured regional administrators.
What it's really about
- National Transition
- Moving from colonial status to a self-defined national entity.
- Civic Duty
- Participation in school boards, charities, and militia reserves.
Why it's memorable
- Sir Robert Borden's ancestor giving away his Nova Scotia land to return to Massachusetts in 1760.
- Senator Robertson personally intervening in Winnipeg to steer labor elements toward legitimate trade unionism.
Where it lands
The record concludes with the post-war business success of military officers like Lt.-Col. Marshall, who transitioned from the Battle of the Somme to managing the Standard Fuel Company in Toronto.
For your book club
- How did the definition of a 'representative' Canadian shift between 1886 and 1919?
- In what ways did the 1885 North-West Rebellion serve as a common career milestone?
- What role did fraternal societies like the Royal Arcanum play in civic networking?