Coningsby Dawson

Born in High Wycombe, England, on February 26, 1883, Coningsby Dawson studied at Merton College, Oxford, where he took a degree in modern history. After a brief theological course at Union Seminary, he chose writing instead and soon moved into journalism and publishing work in North America.

He lived for a time in Taunton, Massachusetts, and later became a literary adviser to the George H. Doran Publishing Company. Early in his career he wrote poems, short stories, and novels including Garden Without Walls, which brought him immediate success. His travels in Canada also shaped his life and imagination, especially his connection to British Columbia.

During World War I, Dawson served as a lieutenant in the Canadian Field Artillery and fought in France, where he was wounded. After the war he continued lecturing and writing, drawing on both his military service and his international experience. He died on August 10, 1959.