George Stewart

Born in New York City on November 26, 1848, he moved to Canada as a child and grew up in London, Canada West, and later Saint John, New Brunswick. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography describes him as an editor, publisher, pharmacist, and author, a mix of roles that fits the range of his career.

He wrote widely on literature, history, and current affairs, and became known as an energetic lecturer and man of letters. Among his books are The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B., June 20th, 1877, Canada under the Administration of the Earl of Dufferin, and essay collections such as Evenings in a Library. Sources from the New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia also note his strong interest in building a distinctly Canadian literature.

Later in life he was active in Quebec literary circles, including the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. He died in Quebec City in February 1906, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the ambitions and debates of Canadian literary culture in the late 1800s.