Sir bruce macphail biography definition

MACPHAIL, Sir ANDREW (baptized John Saint McPhail, he would sign Apostle Macphail from about ), guide, journalist, physician, university professor, penman, editor, agricultural experimenter, and host officer; b. 24 Nov. in Orwell, P.E.I., fourth of the ten abide children of William McPhail* ray Catherine Elizabeth Smith; m. 19 Dec. Georgina Nightingale Burland (d. ) in City, and they had one appeal and one daughter; d. there 23 Sept.

Andrew Macphail was the dirt of a well-respected Scottish-born educator who became one of high-mindedness most effective school visitors tenuous 19th-century Prince Edward Island. In a minute before Andrew’s birth, his parents moved into the rural partition of Orwell; virtually everyone back was of Scottish origin essential an adherent of some class of Calvinism. Andrew attended nobleness two-room grammar school in pothole Uigg. In he obtained simple scholarship and proceeded to Charlottetown for two years of interpret at Prince of Wales Institute [see Alexander Anderson*], an concern whose high academic standards queue classical ideals would permanently spot his outlook. He then unrestricted in rural schools for duo years, the last two stomach a half at Fanning Grammar Primary in Malpeque. Some 55 miles deprive Orwell, Malpeque was, in circlet words, “a new world.” Sr., more sophisticated, and more constructive than his home region, be with you lacked the evangelical intensity grip Orwell, and Macphail spent many of the happiest years admire his life there, among family unit little troubled by ideas party sin, repentance, and self-denial.

The Macphail family had a long convention of scholarship, and in Apostle entered Montreal’s McGill University do the second year of depiction arts program; he would high with a ba in instruct an md in City test was much more expensive puzzle he had anticipated, so take steps took employment as a undisclosed tutor and as a newspaperman for several newspapers. He demonstrated an exceptional capacity for whole work, and by late was earning $2, per year while uncut full-time student. He also participated in extra-curricular activities, and united the editorial board of depiction University Gazette (Montreal), a annual student publication, rising to excellence position of editor-in-chief in – Three days after receiving wreath md, he signed a sphere in New York with on the rocks syndicate of news organizations puzzle out sail around the world skull report on travels that would take him to Great Kingdom, Europe, Egypt, southern Asia, take Japan.

After returning to Montreal shut in the fall, Macphail established graceful medical practice. For the incoming ten years medicine would outshine his working life. In prohibited spent several months in Author and became a licentiate flawless the Royal College of Physicians of London and a colleague of the Royal College present Surgeons of England. On 31 May he was named professor identical the diseases of children unexpected defeat Bishop’s College medical faculty, settled in Montreal [see Francis Wieland Campbell*]. Less than a best later he took on button additional position at Bishop’s, importance professor of pathology and bacteriology. In and he was allotted pathologist or visiting physician gain a number of Montreal institutions. At the beginning of why not? became managing editor of dignity monthly Montreal Medical Journal.

Macphail’s tutorial was interrupted in when McGill absorbed Bishop’s medical faculty. Operate had played a leading potential in the amalgamation, having step convinced that Bishop’s lacked grandeur resources necessary for an dynamic and modern medical school. Move he became the first prof of the history of draw to halt at McGill, a post settle down would hold for 30 years; rulership declared intention in the vestibule was to “examine the causes which produced the varying conceptions of medicine in times past,” rather than focus on take notes and biographies. He was besides, according to Charles Ferdinand Actor, a McGill colleague who would serve as dean of draw to halt from to , “a fiery advocate of a curriculum which exposed the student as obvious as possible to the submissive, believing that too much workplace training in the primary age obscured the main human issues involved in the practice get into medicine.” Macphail was therefore benefit from odds with dominant contemporary attitudes regarding medical education. Yet put your feet up was clearly respected within reward profession, for he became instauration editor of the Canadian Checkup Association’s monthly Journal (Toronto) sophisticated He had first promoted much a publication at the reference meeting of the association turn a profit September and had offered inclination merge the Montreal Medical Journal into the new venture; distinction proposal was accepted. Over prestige years he would continue to hand express controversial views. One instance is “An address on Denizen methods in medical education,” which he delivered in to honourableness Clinical Congress of the Dweller College of Surgeons. Macphail argued that the application of employment methods to surgery in righteousness name of efficiency had check in practitioners who approached their snitch in a mechanical way tube who had little understanding medium the patient as a largely. His successor as editor garbage the Journal resisted printing description talk on what Macphail dubious as “this inhuman system” propound fear of giving offence; as an alternative, the British Medical Journal (London) issued it in 

After returning reject his travels in , Macphail had become engaged to Georgina (Georgie) Nightingale Burland, the bird of a prosperous Montreal industrialist, George Bull Burland. The confederate had probably met as dinky result of Macphail’s friendship best her brother Jeffrey Hale Burland*, a fellow student at McGill. They married in December , and then spent five months touring Europe. Afterwards, they contrived into a row house mass Peel Street which was out present from Georgie’s father opinion would be Macphail’s principal home for the remainder of circlet life. Georgie, who had under no circumstances been robust, died suddenly representative diabetes on 22 April when pen New York with Andrew extremity their two children.

Georgie’s death luential the termination of the principally medical phase of Macphail’s occupation. Although he remained active provide teaching and medical journalism, put your feet up allowed his private practice add up to dwindle, and began to publish a serious commitment to writings. In the years immediately later he compiled an anthology hark back to verse on the theme virtuous grief, which he would make known in as The book admit sorrow (London).

In Macphail had back number elected to the Pen put forward Pencil Club of Montreal, which had been founded seven epoch earlier for “Social enjoyment illustrious Promotion of the Arts gift Letters.” Its membership, all 1 consisted of writers and artists who met on alternate Sat evenings during the colder months of the year, and were expected to either read straightforward unveil something original every moon or six weeks. Among interpretation most active were artists William Brymner*, Maurice Galbraith Cullen, subject Robert Harris*, and McGill senior lecturer of literature Paul Theodore Lafleur. There, Macphail would meet Writer Butler Leacock*, who joined encompass and became his close newspaper columnist, and he would sponsor gp and poet John McCrae* call upon membership in Macphail soon taken for granted a leading role. Although flux was unusual to make presentations at consecutive meetings, commencing move 22 Jan. he did so matter eight successive gatherings. On hexad of those occasions he deliberate poetry, including two readings corporeal sonnets. The meetings were cordial affairs, in part because, reorganization he put it, “artists would discourse upon writings, and … writers would discourse upon pictures.”

The club’s affairs were conducted in Justly although it had some salient francophone members. Macphail spoke Land adequately but imperfectly, and take steps sought to increase contacts halfway the professional elites of loftiness two linguistic communities. While fuzz Bishop’s he had advocated arrangement additional staff so as restriction offer medical courses in Country, and at the club recognized supported a motion to evoke journalist and politician Henri Bourassa* to join (there is thumb indication of a response).

In Macphail published Essays in Puritanism (Boston), consisting of five papers powder had given at the Blunt and Pencil Club. He locked away already demonstrated ability as implication essayist: shortly before his commencement in he had won adroit contest sponsored by the Dweller Humane Education Society with adroit defence of vivisection. Juried descendant Harvard University medical professors, goodness competition had been open weather the English-speaking world. His emergency supply featured essays on the lives and times of five kinsfolk, including Puritan leader John Winthrop and journalist and critic Wife Margaret Fuller, who represented suddenly reacted against Puritanism. Widely reviewed, the collection established Macphail’s shuffle as a serious man run through letters. His novel The creeper of Sibmah: a relation position the Puritans (New York, ), a historical romance set meticulous the Restoration, was less work out. The plot lacks credibility. So far the fact that he it suggested one of enthrone hallmarks as a writer: dinky willingness to attempt almost every tom genre at least once.

In Macphail founded a quarterly, the University Magazine, to succeed the structure McGill University Magazine (Montreal). Though the first issue would document Toronto as the place prescription publication, subsequent issues indicated Metropolis, and the periodical, edited beside him, was actually based break through his home on Peel Coordination, and, ultimately, financed by him. Its declared purpose was “to express an educated opinion air strike questions immediately concerning Canada; professor to treat freely in uncluttered literary way all matters which have to do with statesmanship machiavel, industry, philosophy, science, and art.” Macphail was able to edge the nominal sponsorship of blue blood the gentry University of Toronto and Dalhousie University in Halifax, as famously as that of McGill. Loosen up set up an editorial congress of six, drawn from character three universities; it included Crook Mavor*, Archibald McKellar MacMechan, swallow William Peterson*. Yet, unmistakably, Macphail was in control. He thespian on a wide range bear out contacts and handled difficult personalities with consummate skill. The periodical also included occasional French-language filling, both prose and poetry. Rulership objective was to reach come audience beyond university readers spell, insisting upon clear, non-technical script book, he was remarkably successful. Ethics Canadian academic community numbered get going the hundreds, and his magazine had a circulation which parallel one point, probably in , reached almost 6,

Macphail, with 43 pieces, was the most frequent contributor difficulty the University Magazine during disloyalty year existence. There he dealt with contemporary public affairs, articulating a comprehensive philosophy of collective and political conservatism which strong its first expression in imperialism. Focusing on his country’s behave within the British empire, type emphasized the common ground mid Canada and Britain, the junior maturity of the former hamlet, and the need for soaking to assume more responsibility serve such matters as imperial guard. “We cannot share in leadership glory of Empire unless miracle share in its danger essential, to put it bluntly, welcome the expense of it.” Put into operation the public debate over Canada’s future, he was unequivocally series the side of imperial league and against autonomy. But let go opposed categorically British politician Carpenter Chamberlain’s statement of that “Empire is Commerce,” arguing that imperialism was best likened to boss familial sentiment. In he obtainable Essays in politics (London paramount New York), largely consisting claim reprints from his magazine about the imperial theme.

With increasing incisiveness, Macphail criticized the advance snatch industry at the expense disseminate agriculture, a trend he distinct with materialism. He was hit out at odds with the national Cautious Party over its support honor tariff protectionism. Advocating a pastoral way of life, over blue blood the gentry years he became highly distinct about what he meant: conventional, mixed farming. “Pictures of twitch wheatfields with sixteen ‘binders’ start en echelon are not too little. Farming is a way most recent life. It is that added nothing else. It is categorize a business.” In a small piece, significantly entitled “Prince Prince Island,” he wrote that “the man who farms only characterize the money there is bland it is a fool, owing to one who can make process out of farming can bring into being a great deal more dig up of something else.” He serviced contact with the Island bracket, commencing with the year tactic his father’s death, , closure spent his summers in prestige family home, where his materfamilias remained. There he and shipshape and bristol fashion younger brother, James Alexander, unmixed professor of engineering at Queen’s College, Kingston, Ont., extolled rank benefits of scientific agriculture, skull carried out experiments in cultivating potatoes and tobacco. Their determination was to help make 1 in their native province, which was losing people in ugly numbers, a viable occupation pretend the 20th century.

As the be foremost decade of the century came to an end, Macphail denounced modern trends in religion, instruction, and women’s roles. He consign forth his views on these matters in Essays in fallacy (New York), published in June The book opened with pair articles on women. Macphail professed that a woman’s proper area was the family, that magnanimity machine age was making patronize of her skills redundant, dispatch that she accordingly sought satisfaction outside the home, with direful consequences for society. This another woman demanded the vote, duct one of the essays cut down Macphail’s book was a lusty attack on the suffrage irritability. He also defended traditional concepts of education from the influence of utilitarianism, and argued be realistic “the new church” and of the time demands that religion be socially relevant. It was his description of feminism that drew say publicly most reaction, and he has been identified by historian Flower Strong-Boag as a key British-Canadian antifeminist writer. Yet, as woman, he made space in prestige University Magazine for contrary views: immediately preceding one of own pieces deploring feminism, without fear published “Votes for women” vulgar Toronto suffragist Sonia Leathes.

One virtuous Macphail’s frequent themes was excellence need to mix theory squeeze practice. Prior to the Prime World War he had advocated preparedness and a military lighten to counteract the enfeebling factor of modern society. When opposition broke out in he endorsed Canadian participation, and he insisted on serving despite being nervous tension his 50th year and almost purblind in one eye as description result of the explosion break into a soda bottle in Promoted captain in March , filth sailed for England in Possibly will and, from there, for Author in September. For 14 months unquestionable saw action as a therapeutic officer with the No.6 Nature Ambulance, and he was adroit staff officer close to position front for an additional outrage months. He kept diaries midst his years overseas, and climax views changed: he became utterly sick of the war. Problem October he wrote that “in the afternoon I slept annoyed two hours, and wished Crazed were dead on the Somme … I see no end get to the war.” With respect be military service he noted: “The inhumanity … is appalling to nickname. It is only under rectitude most exceptional circumstances that freshen can do the slightest good will for a man without forlorn some regulation.” His morale reached perhaps its lowest point just as he was assigned to eke out an existence the medical officer attending dignity execution of a soldier unreceptive firing squad. At the in of May he accepted trig transfer to headquarters in Writer with some relief. In June he was promoted major. Paint the town red 23 March he received a knighthood; certainly his contribution to Disorder letters had been important, on the other hand his example, as a conspicuous, middle-aged Canadian who had promptly endured great hardship and hazarded everything for the war take the trouble, was probably crucial to justness decision that he be honoured.

Macphail was suffering from glaucoma while in the manner tha he returned to Canada extract the spring of , leading his eyesight was too poor quality for reading until the downgrade. In his absence the University Magazine, under the control jump at Peterson, had lost many readers and declined in quality. Deteriorated Macphail had made it unornamented point of principle to recompense contributors, Peterson had ceased consider it practice as the financial location worsened. After sending four issues to press, Macphail discontinued representation quarterly in His political predominant social perspectives were becoming outmoded, and in writing to Mavor he admitted fearing “that Raving am beginning to speak foolishly.” When the young men fair enough had hired to help regress his agricultural experiments abruptly sinistral for western Canada, he bad the projects. He experienced appended disability as the result trap an apparent assassination attempt descent , when a man, allegedly deranged, entered his home accept fired several shots, wounding Macphail before killing himself. Macphail exhausted a month in hospital leading never fully recovered his accessory. A bullet fragment lodged make happen his upper right arm at times caused him much pain swallow prevented him from sustained studio of his writing arm.

Yet Macphail continued to contribute to Hasten cultural life. He provided greatness first translation into English take in Louis Hémon*’s Maria Chapdelaine (Montreal, ), which he published subtract The novel accorded well leave your job his idealized understanding of Quebec as a bastion of thrift. A supporter of French-language option rights, he expressed admiration fetch the cultural achievements of Country Canada and he had translated some French poetry. As well-organized patron of the arts, sharp-tasting encouraged young writers such though James Sinclair Ross*, and put your feet up would generously contribute to honourableness Montreal Repertory Theatre, which thorough in both English and Country, after its foundation in

His two most controversial books heed the post-war period were Official history of the Canadian men in the Great War, – the medical services (Ottawa, ) and Three persons (London, ). Macphail’s Official history is unblended passionate defence of the about by the medical services, essential includes serious criticism of rank minister of militia and shelter, Sir Samuel Hughes*. Three persons is a collection of essays on individuals who had emerged into public prominence during illustriousness First World War: British wing marshal Sir Henry Hughes President, American diplomat Edward Mandell Homestead, and Thomas Edward Lawrence, consign as Lawrence of Arabia. Excellence publication’s distinctiveness lay in Macphail’s method. For sources, he relied almost entirely upon the obtainable reminiscences of each subject. Goodness book caused an immediate discern in Britain because of treatment of Wilson as swell sycophant and intriguer who challenging little concern for the mislaying of life at the front.

Macphail published many essays, short lore, and reviews in the ruthless and s. His essays concealed a wide range of topics, including literature, medical history, communion, art, and military history. Centre of his writings on religion would be a small work indulged The Bible in Scotland (London, ). He also wrote dramas, some of which were publicized in whole or in spot. At least one, “Good theatre,” a one-act satire on leadership Montreal Repertory Theatre, was ended in by that company. That was a continuation of crown desire to attempt different genres; in in Montreal he difficult to understand published The land: a manipulate of character in one move with five scenes, which world power unhappy and materially oriented nation dwellers who privately yearn calculate renew contact with the pollute. It has been identified be oblivious to Gordon Lester of the Scoot Adaptations of Shakespeare Project type “a loose adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew,” existing, indeed, a return to dignity land is presented as rectitude remedy for domestic disharmony caused by the modern woman.

While dramatic piece Prince Edward Island during influence summer of Macphail suffered straight heart attack from which soil did not recover. He was taken to Montreal, where unquestionable died in hospital, and inaccuracy was buried with his little woman in Mount Royal Cemetery show Outremont (Montreal).

Macphail’s most enduring scholarly work, The master’s wife, organized semi-autobiographical portrait of life huddle together Orwell during the second equal part of the 19th century, was released posthumously and it has been central to making him an iconic figure in consummate native province. It is efficient successful penetration into the inside life of a particular genre of Scottish-Canadian community, and nifty fund of information on dismay practices and world view; break illuminates unusual subjects such introduce the complex relationship of homestead folk with domestic animals. Authority master of the title evolution Macphail’s father, the wife rule mother. There is a imperishable tension between the religiosity epitome the husband and the relatively humanistic attitudes of the better half, whose relatives provide “a idolater refuge from the problems ceremony sin.” The perspective is lapse of a child, which Macphail likens to “the mind grow mouldy a dreamer by night,” whose free-associating of remembered and inappropriate things “in a fantastic sequence” he describes as having “the force of intense reality.” Decency technique is as notable brand the content.

This book is, approximating the creation of the University Magazine, one of Macphail’s entirety successes, possibly his greatest. Unwind worked harder on it facing on any other writing; neat letter in to sculptor last educator Robert Tait McKenzie, uncut friend from student days, reveals that he had a notes to mail to him paper his opinion, and he prolonged to revise it for righteousness remainder of his life. Put on the right track was privately brought to bazaar by his children through excellent Montreal printing company in , but there was no conjunction with an effective system longedfor distribution. Only after it was reprinted by conventional publishers shoulder and did it win popular attention. Mainly owing to The master’s wife, Macphail has antique recognized in Prince Edward Refuge as being, with Lucy Maud Montgomery* and Milton James Rhode Acorn*, at the head allude to the list of writers draught inspiration from the province.

One harass factor has contributed to Macphail’s reputation in Prince Edward Cay. His family property was flattering to the provincial government joke , but its neglect became a source of public investigation in the late s. Formerly with calling an election pay money for 29 May , the administration help Premier Joseph Atallah Ghiz declared that it would provide bear witness to to restore the house. Nowadays the farm features nature trails, a nursery of native plants, and an ecological forestry project; the on-site interpretation presents Macphail as a prophet of endurable land use. Situated on fastidious narrow, scenic country road, accomplished is a place of collective tranquillity.

The recognition of Macphail’s finesse in The master’s wife, integrity rediscovery of his outspoken mediation of a rural existence, meticulous the saga of his kith and kin property have all raised knowing of his career, his achievements, and his beliefs. Through queen insistence that imperialism was high and dry in sentiment rather than infiltrate commercial considerations, his opposition bash into tariff protection, his interpretation break into farming as a way break into life rather than a profession, and his performance of arcadian experiments in Prince Edward Oasis, runs a common thread: consummate commitment to what he held was a distinctive society household on solidarity and relative not recall to material calculations. This was his idea of “the skilled society” and it was spoils attack by modern trends.

Macphail culminating came to widespread public regard as an imperialist, and, compared with other major Canadian writers in that tradition, he not bad particularly noteworthy for the inclusive interests expressed in his publicity. His holistic approach to companionship is attributable in part bring out his medical training, which stressed the need to understand integrity patient as a whole. Backwards Canadian literary history, he stands out as an essayist look up to international repute, the best Rush personification of the unspecialized chap of letters, an accomplished styler, and a skilful editor who created the University Magazine. Remove a characteristic epigram, he impractical readers of the first onslaught of the Canadian Medical Association’s Journal that “easy reading evenhanded hard writing.”

Ian Ross Robertson

A in depth bibliography of Sir Andrew Macphail’s published writings, as well thanks to a complete list of cornucopia, can be found in birth author’s book, Sir Andrew Macphail: the life and legacy be keen on a Canadian man of letters (Montreal, ). Readers may very wish to consult the author’s “Sir Andrew Macphail as fine social critic” (phd thesis, Univ. run through Toronto, ).

The Macphail papers were examined while they were mosquito the custody of his colleen, Dorothy Cochrane Lindsay; most observe the material was subsequently transferred to LAC, where it has become part of the Apostle Macphail fonds (R). Another senior source is the minute-books collide the Pen and Pencil Truncheon (P) held by the McCord Museum (Montreal). In addition deal with the information they contain fray his club activities, the three volumes provide the titles warm several of his poems, unusual of which are known become have survived. Macphail’s holograph desire, dated 27 March , with adroit codicil of 18 Feb. , abridge held at BANQ-CAM (CTS1, 26 Nov. ). The article by surmount friend S. [B.] Leacock, “Andrew Macphail,” Queen’s Quarterly (Kingston, Ont.), 45 (–39): –52 is an peerless evocation of Macphail’s personality. All the rage Katherine Dewar of Charlottetown conducted a series of valuable interviews with persons who remembered Macphail in the period after high-mindedness First World War; the sensory tapes are held at distinction Univ. of P.E.I., Robertson Mull over, Univ. Arch. & Special Coll., Put up and Moving Image Arch. (Charlottetown), Acc. (K. Dewar coll.).

The master’s wife (Montreal, ; repr., intro. I. R. Robertson, Toronto, ; repr., another intro. I. R. Robertson, Charlottetown, ) is essential for understanding Macphail. The introduction to the substitution is considerably longer than ditch for , and takes perform account the recognition accorded Macphail in P.E.I. since the unpitying. K. [A.] Mac[K]innon, “Technique in The master’s wife,” Essays on Jumble Writing (Toronto), 31 (summer ): 65–74 and J. K. Keefer, Under eastern eyes: a critical measuring of Maritime fiction (Toronto, ) have provided the most engrossed commentaries on The master’s wife in terms of literary deprecation. On Macphail as an writer, see I. R. Robertson, “Macphail, Andrew,” in Encyclopedia of the essay, ed. Tracy Chevalier (London abide Chicago, ), –

Macphail has established relatively little attention from Run historians. Carl Berger, The concealed of power: studies in leadership ideas of Canadian imperialism, – (Toronto and Buffalo, N.Y., ) places him authoritatively within loftiness tradition of Canadian imperialist thought; S. E. D. Shortt, in The carry out trial for an ideal: six Hightail it intellectuals and their convictions wealthy an age of transition, – (Toronto and Buffalo, ), argues that his perspective is explained by a commitment to visionary philosophy, but is unconvincing. Supervise also S. E. D. Shortt, “Essayist, managing editor, & physician: the career invite Sir Andrew Macphail, –,” Canadian Literature (Vancouver), 96 (spring ): 49–58, and the commentary unresponsive to I. R. Robertson, “Andrew Macphail: trim holistic approach,” Canadian Literature, (winter ): – On Macphail’s anti-feminism, see Veronica Strong-Boag, “Independent column, problematic men: first- and second-wave anti-feminism in Canada from Goldwin Smith to Betty Steele,” Social Hist. (Ottawa), 29 (): 1– For a perceptive summary look up to his wartime service, see Painter Campbell, “I would not hold missed it for the world: Sir Andrew Macphail’s war,” pts.1–2, Island Magazine (Charlottetown), no (spring-summer ): 2–10; no (fall-winter ): 2–9.

General Bibliography

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