John Charles Dent
Encyclopedia
John Charles Dent was a Canadian
journalist, author and historian.
He was born in Kendal
, Westmorland
, England
. Shortly after his birth, his family emigrated to Canada West.
Dent received his primary education in Canadian schools, studied law in Brantford, Ontario
, and became an attorney in 1865. He practised law for a few years, but found the profession did not suit him, and was drawn to pursue literary endeavours instead. He accordingly relinquished his practice as soon as he felt himself in a position to do so, and went to England.
He developed his journalistic skills working for The Daily Telegraph
. He also contributed a series of articles to the periodical Once a Week
.
At this period he had a wife and family depending on him for support, and it speaks well for his abilities, that he was able to amply provide for them out of the profits solely derived from his literary labours. To do this he had to devote himself to work that could be quickly written, and readily sold. Accordingly, Dent produced no very long or ambitious work in England.
After remaining in England for several years, Dent and his family moved to America in 1867. He obtained a position in Boston
, which he held for about two years. Then he went to Toronto
, having accepted a position on the editorial staff of the Toronto Evening Telegram
, which was then just starting. For several years Dent devoted himself to journalistic labours on various newspapers, but principally the Toronto Weekly Globe. To that journal he contributed a very notable series of biographical sketches on "Eminent Canadians."
In 1880, soon after the death of George Brown
, founder of the Globe, Dent severed his connection with that paper and began his first ambitious undertaking, The Canadian Portrait Gallery (1880), which ran to four large volumes. It contained biographies of Canadian public figures, living and dead, carefully prepared, and written from an un-partisan standpoint. This book attained a considerable circulation, and brought to its author a comparatively large sum of money.
Dent's second book was The Last Forty Years: Canada since the Union of 1841. This work has been highly praised in all quarters.
His third work was a History of the Rebellion in Upper Canada (1885–6). Through careful research, from sources of information previously not accessible, Dent was able to throw new light on the characters of the men who took part in the Upper Canada Rebellion
. This work met with severe criticism when first published, as it contradicted commonly-held beliefs at the time.
In writing history, he was in accord with Thomas Babington Macaulay. He always believed that a true story should be told as agreeably as a fictitious one; "that the incidents of real life, whether political or domestic, admit of being so arranged as, without detriment to accuracy, to command all the interest of an artificial series of facts; that the chain of circumstances which constitute history may be as finely and gracefully woven as any tale of fancy."
Dent has been compared to Francis Parkman
for his ability to write about Canadian history without being dull and dry.
In addition, he wrote a great many sketches, essays and stories. A collection of his stories was published posthumously in The Gerrard Street mystery and other weird tales. (1888)
Dent was elected to fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada
in 1887.
In private life, Dent possessed qualities of mind and heart, having their visible outcome in a courteous, genial manner that endeared him very closely to his friends. With all his wealth of learning, which was very great, he was light-hearted, witty and companionable.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist, author and historian.
He was born in Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
, Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Shortly after his birth, his family emigrated to Canada West.
Dent received his primary education in Canadian schools, studied law in Brantford, Ontario
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
, and became an attorney in 1865. He practised law for a few years, but found the profession did not suit him, and was drawn to pursue literary endeavours instead. He accordingly relinquished his practice as soon as he felt himself in a position to do so, and went to England.
He developed his journalistic skills working for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. He also contributed a series of articles to the periodical Once a Week
Once A Week (magazine)
Once A Week was an English weekly illustrated literary magazine published by Bradbury and Evans. According to John Sutherland, "[h]istorically the magazine's main achievement was to provide an outlet for [an] innovative group of illustrators [in] the 1860s."The magazine was founded in consequence...
.
At this period he had a wife and family depending on him for support, and it speaks well for his abilities, that he was able to amply provide for them out of the profits solely derived from his literary labours. To do this he had to devote himself to work that could be quickly written, and readily sold. Accordingly, Dent produced no very long or ambitious work in England.
After remaining in England for several years, Dent and his family moved to America in 1867. He obtained a position in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, which he held for about two years. Then he went to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, having accepted a position on the editorial staff of the Toronto Evening Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
, which was then just starting. For several years Dent devoted himself to journalistic labours on various newspapers, but principally the Toronto Weekly Globe. To that journal he contributed a very notable series of biographical sketches on "Eminent Canadians."
In 1880, soon after the death of George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
, founder of the Globe, Dent severed his connection with that paper and began his first ambitious undertaking, The Canadian Portrait Gallery (1880), which ran to four large volumes. It contained biographies of Canadian public figures, living and dead, carefully prepared, and written from an un-partisan standpoint. This book attained a considerable circulation, and brought to its author a comparatively large sum of money.
Dent's second book was The Last Forty Years: Canada since the Union of 1841. This work has been highly praised in all quarters.
His third work was a History of the Rebellion in Upper Canada (1885–6). Through careful research, from sources of information previously not accessible, Dent was able to throw new light on the characters of the men who took part in the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
. This work met with severe criticism when first published, as it contradicted commonly-held beliefs at the time.
In writing history, he was in accord with Thomas Babington Macaulay. He always believed that a true story should be told as agreeably as a fictitious one; "that the incidents of real life, whether political or domestic, admit of being so arranged as, without detriment to accuracy, to command all the interest of an artificial series of facts; that the chain of circumstances which constitute history may be as finely and gracefully woven as any tale of fancy."
Dent has been compared to Francis Parkman
Francis Parkman
Francis Parkman was an American historian, best known as author of The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and his monumental seven-volume France and England in North America. These works are still valued as history and especially as literature, although the biases of his...
for his ability to write about Canadian history without being dull and dry.
In addition, he wrote a great many sketches, essays and stories. A collection of his stories was published posthumously in The Gerrard Street mystery and other weird tales. (1888)
Dent was elected to fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1887.
In private life, Dent possessed qualities of mind and heart, having their visible outcome in a courteous, genial manner that endeared him very closely to his friends. With all his wealth of learning, which was very great, he was light-hearted, witty and companionable.