Cleric.
Born in County Tyrone, Ireland on 19 June 1839, son of Hugh Phair (1813-?), he received religious training in the Church Missionary Society at Islington, London then came to the Red River Settlement in 1864. He was ordained a Deacon on 25 March 1864, by Bishop David Anderson, and was sent to work as a missionary among Indigenous people at Fort Alexander, being ordained a priest in 1866, by Robert Machray.
He remained at Fort Alexander until 1874 when he was sent to Alberton, Ontario, remaining there until 1888, when he was made an Archdeacon at Islington. He was appointed Superintendent of Indian Missions for the Diocese of Rupert's Land, holding the position until retirement in 1915, after which he lived at Biloxi, Mississippi.
He was married twice, first to Martha Mary North (1841-1903) had six children, four of whom survived him: Dr. W. R. G. Phair, Alice Phair (wife of Rev. Tredennier), Emily Martha Dorothea Phair (1877-?, wife of Leonard Percival Kenwrick), and Evangeline Bancroft Phair (1882-?, wife of Walter James Turnbull). His son Canon Ernest Edward Maxwell Phair died aboard the Lusitania (1915) and his son Robin Phair died while performing missionary work in China. His nephew was Herbert Edward William “Bert” Phair (father of Mary Emma Frances “Molly” Phair). His second wife was Louisa Richardson (?-?), who survived him.
He died at San Diego, California on 11 November 1931 after being struck by an automobile while crossing the street. He was buried at San Diego.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. John’s Anglican Archdeacon’s House (172 Church Avenue, Winnipeg)
1901 Canada census, Ancestry.
Death registration [Martha Mary Phair], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Evangeline Bancroft Phair, Walter James Turnbull], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Pioneer missionary of Manitoba expires,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 November 1931, page 6.
“Missionary pioneer of Manitoba dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 November 1931, page 4.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 24 September 2025
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