Charles William Gordon [Ralph Connor] (1860-1937)

Cleric, publicist, author.

Born at Indian Lands, Glengarry County, Ontario, 13 September 1860. Son of the Reverend Daniel Gordon and Mary Robertson. Educated at public schools at Athol and Harriston, Ontario, 1871, High School, St. Mary’s, 1879, Toronto University, 1883, Knox College, 1887, New College, Edinburgh, 1887-1888. Took Continental bicycle tour in 1888. Married Helen King, 28 September 1888, B.A., daughter of Principal King, of Manitoba College; with whom he had one son and four daughters, including Ruth Gordon. Recreations: driving, canoeing and camping.

Gordon taught school in early life; was Classical Master, Chatham High School, 1887; Master, Upper Canada College, Toronto, 1886-87. Post Graduate work at New College, Edinburgh, Scotland; travelled as a Missionary in the Canadian Rockies in 1890-94; travelled in the old country as Commissioner for Presbyterian Missions in Canada. Was called to St. Stephen’s Church, Winnipeg, August 1894. Was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg from 1909 to 1910. Overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War One in the Chaplain Service. One of Canada’s most popular authors written under the pen name of Ralph Connor, of the following books:

• Black Rock, 1898
• Sky Pilot, 1899
• Man from Glengarry, 1901
• Glengarry School Days, 1902
• The Prospector, 1904
• Beyond the Marshes, 1900
• The Pilot at Seven Creek, 1903
• The Doctor, 1906
• The Angel and the Star, 1907
• Life of James Robertson, 1908
• The Foreigner, 1909
• The Dawn by Galilee, 1909
• The Recall of Love, 1910
• Ould Michael, 1900

In 1910 he was listed by the Winnipeg Telegram as one of Winnipeg’s 19 millionaires.

His Winnipeg home was designed by architect George W. Northwood.

Scholars study him today less for his craftsmanship than for his attitudes, many of which were quite typical of much of middle-class Anglophone Canada. An ardent imperialist, he was an enthusiastic patriot in World War One, and undertook many fundraising and speaking tours during the conflict. He was also an early enthusiastic cottager at Lake of the Woods. His autobiography was published as Postscript to Adventure (1938).

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manitoba in 1937.

His papers are at the Univerity of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections.

More information:

The World of Helen Gordon by J. King Gordon with Introduction by Marjorie Gordon Smart
Manitoba Pageant,Volume 24, Number 1, Autumn 1978

Charles William Gordon - Person of National Historic Significance

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, 1911. C. W. Parker, editor. Canadian Press Association, Vancouver.

Profile revised: 10 July 2009

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