Francis Sherman

Francis Joseph Sherman (1871–1926) was a Canadian poet born in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Influenced by William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and fellow New Brunswick writers Bliss Carman and Charles G.D. Roberts, he published his first poetry collection, Matins, in 1896. Other notable works include In Memorabilia Mortis, A Prelude, The Deserted City, and A Canadian Calendar: XII Lyrics.

Sherman also built a successful career in banking, eventually managing the Royal Bank of Canada’s first agency in Havana, Cuba. During the First World War, he served with Canadian forces and rose to the rank of major before returning to banking after the war.

Although his published poetic career was brief, ending around 1900, Sherman was later recognized as an important Canadian writer. His Complete Poems appeared in 1935, and he was named a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada in 1945.