Stephen Leacock - Writers, Family and Family
Stephen Leacock's Personal Details
Stephen Leacock was a Canadian political scientist, teacher and writer
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 30, 1869 |
| Died on | March 28, 1944 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Famous | University Of Chicago, University Of Toronto, Writers, Writers |
| Spouses | Beatrix Hamilton |
| Childrens | Stephen Lushington Leacock |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Swanmore, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Peter Leacock |
| Mother | Agnes Leacock |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Swanmore, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
| Famous as | Canadian writer |
| Died at Age | 74 |
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Stephen Leacock's photo
Who is Stephen Leacock?
Stephen Butler Leacock was an English-born Canadian writer, teacher, political scientist and humorist. He was a polyglot having proficiency in English, French and German. Leacock’s stories are masqueraded with humor and mainly revolve around himself and his life-events. His works reflect a noticeable satirical element - a fine line between hilarity and absurdity. Leacock was always an educator and this trait was clearly visible in all his literary and creative pursuits. He efficiently combined pathos with satire and topped it with subtlety and irony. He always saw ‘humor’ as the ultimate expression of human kindness and progress and during ‘Great Depression’ he attempted to soothe the miserable souls through his writings. Leacock was traditionally conservative, which was clearly evident in his satiric norm and the way he valued the community over the individual. Although people disapproved of his dependency on a ‘lesser-known genre’, he remained devoted to his first love, humor.
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Childhood & Early Life
Born to Peter Leacock and Agnes Butler, Stephen was the third of his parent’s eleven children. His family immigrated to Canada on account of banishment from manor house, and settled on a farm in Toronto, Ontario. He was just six at that time.
In 1878, under the influence of alcohol, his father abandoned the family and traveled west to Manitoba, along with his brother E.P. Leacock.
He was enrolled into an elite private school of Upper Canada College by his grandfather. In 1891, he received Bachelor of Arts degree from the University College, University of Toronto. In the same year, his first writing was published in ‘The Varsity’, a student newspaper of the University.
In 1903, he was awarded a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago where he studied economics and political science.
Career
In 1894, his first humorous story was published in a Canadian magazine. In the next few years he had published more than 30 stories in various Canadian and American magazines.
In 1903, he was appointed as a lecturer in Mc Gill University, Montreal. He became the head of the department of economics and political science in 1908, and served until his retirement.
In 1906, he published his first book, ‘Elements of Political Science’, which became a best-seller as soon as it arrived in the market.
Soon his other books followed namely ‘Literary Lapses’ (1910), ‘Nonsense Novels’ (1911), ‘Sunshine sketches of a little town’ (1912), ‘Arcadian adventures with the idle rich’ (1914), ‘The unresolved riddle of social justice’ (1919), ‘My discovery of England’ (1921), Economic prosperity in the British Empire’ (1930), ‘Humor: its theory and technique’ (1935), ‘My remarkable Uncle and other sketches’ (1942). Two of his books were published posthumously - ‘Last Leaves’ (1945) and ‘The boy I left behind me’ (1946).
He also published a series of articles in leading newspapers and magazines which earned him fame and reputation. ‘Economic prosperity in the British empire’ (1930) and ‘My discovery of the west’ (1937) were among his finest articles.
Major Works
‘Elements of political science’ (1906) was regarded as his best-selling book throughout his career. It ascertained the connection between political science and the state which houses it.
‘Literary Lapses’ (1910) was his first collection of comic writings - it is considered to be an all-time classic. It is a collection of short stories strung together in the thread of wit, charm and delightfully wicked humor. It was an instant success since its first appearance and received critical acclaim too.
‘Nonsense Novels’ (1911) is a collection of brilliant satirical fables including the ghost story, the detective story, the rags-to-riches story, the adventure story, the shipwreck story et cetera. It is still regarded as worth many hours of joyous delight.
‘The sunshine sketches of a little town’ (1912) contains a series of connected vignettes from every walk of life. It is considered to be one of the most lasting classics of Canadian humorous literature. It is popular for its universal appeal and was adapted in a television series in 1952 and 2012.
‘Arcadian adventures with the Idle Rich’ (1914) is another classic Canadian satire and certainly his funniest book. It was a big hit in North America at the time of its publication and was a great success. It satirizes the social events in a delightful prose and provides a glimpse of Montreal, a powerful city.
Awards & Achievements
In 1937, he was awarded the royal society of Canada’s ‘Lorne Pierce medal’ for his academic work and contribution to the Canadian Literature, particularly humor writing.
In 1937, he won the ‘Governor General’s award’ for his book, ‘My discovery of the West: A discussion of East and West in Canada’ which was based on his experience gathered as a lecturer on his tour to western Canada.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1900, he married Beatrix Hamilton, an aspiring actress and had a son named Stephen Lushington Leacock, from her.
His son’s growth was stunted from an early age due to lack of growth hormone. Consequently, his height never crossed the four foot mark. Although, Stephen tended his son with great care, there was a love-hate relationship between father and son.
In 1928, the success of his books allowed him to move to Old Brewery Bay in Orillia. He built a house there which was later converted into a museum and was declared as one of the ‘National historic sites of Canada’.
In 1946, ‘Stephen Leacock Associates Foundation’ was instituted. It was tasked to preserve his literary legacy and manage ‘Stephen Leacock memorial Medal for humor’. It is awarded to encourage Canadian humor writers. In the same year his unfinished autobiography, ‘The boy I left behind me’, was published posthumously.
In 1969, Canada post released a six cent stamp on the centennial of his birth, with his image on it. In the following year, the Stephen Leacock centennial committee raised a plaque at his English birthplace.
Many buildings in Canada were named after him, including the ‘Stephen Leacock building’ at McGill University, ‘Stephen Leacock public school’ in Ottawa, a theater in Keswick, and a school in Toronto.
He died of throat cancer and was buried in St George the Martyr Churchyard, Sutton, Ontario.
Trivia
His book ‘My remarkable Uncle’ is a plain mockery of his uncle Edward Philip Leacock.
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Stephen Leacock's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1947 | Leacock Medal | |
| 0 | Mark Twain medal | |
| 0 | 1937 - Governor General’s Award | |
| 0 | Lorne Pierce Medal | |
| 0 | FRSC | |
Stephen Leacock biography timelines
- // 1869Born to Peter Leacock and Agnes Butler, Stephen was the third of his parent’s eleven children. His family immigrated to Canada on account of banishment from manor house, and settled on a farm in Toronto, Ontario. He was just six at that time.
- // 1878In 1878, under the influence of alcohol, his father abandoned the family and traveled west to Manitoba, along with his brother E.P. Leacock.
- // 1891He was enrolled into an elite private school of Upper Canada College by his grandfather. In 1891, he received Bachelor of Arts degree from the University College, University of Toronto. In the same year, his first writing was published in ‘The Varsity’, a student newspaper of the University.
- // 1894In 1894, his first humorous story was published in a Canadian magazine. In the next few years he had published more than 30 stories in various Canadian and American magazines.
- // 1900In 1900, he married Beatrix Hamilton, an aspiring actress and had a son named Stephen Lushington Leacock, from her.
- // 1903In 1903, he was awarded a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago where he studied economics and political science.
- // 1903 To 1908In 1903, he was appointed as a lecturer in Mc Gill University, Montreal. He became the head of the department of economics and political science in 1908, and served until his retirement.
- // 1906In 1906, he published his first book, ‘Elements of Political Science’, which became a best-seller as soon as it arrived in the market.
- // 1906‘Elements of political science’ (1906) was regarded as his best-selling book throughout his career. It ascertained the connection between political science and the state which houses it.
- // 1910 To 1946Soon his other books followed namely ‘Literary Lapses’ (1910), ‘Nonsense Novels’ (1911), ‘Sunshine sketches of a little town’ (1912), ‘Arcadian adventures with the idle rich’ (1914), ‘The unresolved riddle of social justice’ (1919), ‘My discovery of England’ (1921), Economic prosperity in the British Empire’ (1930), ‘Humor: its theory and technique’ (1935), ‘My remarkable Uncle and other sketches’ (1942). Two of his books were published posthumously - ‘Last Leaves’ (1945) and ‘The boy I left behind me’ (1946).
- // 1910‘Literary Lapses’ (1910) was his first collection of comic writings - it is considered to be an all-time classic. It is a collection of short stories strung together in the thread of wit, charm and delightfully wicked humor. It was an instant success since its first appearance and received critical acclaim too.
- // 1911‘Nonsense Novels’ (1911) is a collection of brilliant satirical fables including the ghost story, the detective story, the rags-to-riches story, the adventure story, the shipwreck story et cetera. It is still regarded as worth many hours of joyous delight.
- // 1912‘The sunshine sketches of a little town’ (1912) contains a series of connected vignettes from every walk of life. It is considered to be one of the most lasting classics of Canadian humorous literature. It is popular for its universal appeal and was adapted in a television series in 1952 and 2012.
- // 1914‘Arcadian adventures with the Idle Rich’ (1914) is another classic Canadian satire and certainly his funniest book. It was a big hit in North America at the time of its publication and was a great success. It satirizes the social events in a delightful prose and provides a glimpse of Montreal, a powerful city.
- // 1928In 1928, the success of his books allowed him to move to Old Brewery Bay in Orillia. He built a house there which was later converted into a museum and was declared as one of the ‘National historic sites of Canada’.
- // 1930 To 1937He also published a series of articles in leading newspapers and magazines which earned him fame and reputation. ‘Economic prosperity in the British empire’ (1930) and ‘My discovery of the west’ (1937) were among his finest articles.
- // 1937In 1937, he was awarded the royal society of Canada’s ‘Lorne Pierce medal’ for his academic work and contribution to the Canadian Literature, particularly humor writing.
- // 1937In 1937, he won the ‘Governor General’s award’ for his book, ‘My discovery of the West: A discussion of East and West in Canada’ which was based on his experience gathered as a lecturer on his tour to western Canada.
- // 28th Mar 1944He died of throat cancer and was buried in St George the Martyr Churchyard, Sutton, Ontario.
- // 1946In 1946, ‘Stephen Leacock Associates Foundation’ was instituted. It was tasked to preserve his literary legacy and manage ‘Stephen Leacock memorial Medal for humor’. It is awarded to encourage Canadian humor writers. In the same year his unfinished autobiography, ‘The boy I left behind me’, was published posthumously.
- // 1969In 1969, Canada post released a six cent stamp on the centennial of his birth, with his image on it. In the following year, the Stephen Leacock centennial committee raised a plaque at his English birthplace.
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Stephen Leacock's FAQ
What is Stephen Leacock birthday?
Stephen Leacock was born at 1869-12-30
When was Stephen Leacock died?
Stephen Leacock was died at 1944-03-28
Where was Stephen Leacock died?
Stephen Leacock was died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Which age was Stephen Leacock died?
Stephen Leacock was died at age 74
Where is Stephen Leacock's birth place?
Stephen Leacock was born in Swanmore, Hampshire, United Kingdom
What is Stephen Leacock nationalities?
Stephen Leacock's nationalities is Canadian
Who is Stephen Leacock spouses?
Stephen Leacock's spouses is Beatrix Hamilton
Who is Stephen Leacock childrens?
Stephen Leacock's childrens is Stephen Lushington Leacock
What was Stephen Leacock universities?
Stephen Leacock studied at University Of Chicago,University Of Toronto, College of the Sequoias
What was Stephen Leacock notable alumnis?
Stephen Leacock's notable alumnis is University Of Chicago, University Of Toronto
Who is Stephen Leacock's father?
Stephen Leacock's father is Peter Leacock
Who is Stephen Leacock's mother?
Stephen Leacock's mother is Agnes Leacock
What is Stephen Leacock's sun sign?
Stephen Leacock is Capricorn
How famous is Stephen Leacock?
Stephen Leacock is famouse as Canadian writer