Memorable Manitobans: John G. Gillies (1857-1940)

Translator, poet.

Born in Iceland on 15 November 1857 and educated at the Latin School of Reykjavik, he emigrated to Canada in 1882 and settled at Selkirk, Manitoba, later moving to Winnipeg. He was a proficient linguist and translator, having been commissioned to translate the Bible into Swedish. For his own enjoyment he translated the Iliad and the Odyssey into Icelandic. He was also a poet, writing in Icelandic. He retired to Gimli in 1928 and died there in January 1940.

Sources:

“Icelandic Poet, Pioneer Is Dead”, Winnipeg Tribune, 28 January 1940. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9]

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Profile revised: 27 January 2009

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