Gilbert Parker

Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker was born on November 23, 1862, in Camden East, Ontario. He began his career as a teacher and journalist before turning to fiction, publishing his first novel in 1892. Many of his best-known works draw on Canadian history and life, especially the French Canadian communities of Quebec.

Parker later settled in London, where he became an influential novelist, public speaker, and British politician. His popular books included The Seats of the Mighty, The Right of Way, and The Lane that Had No Turning. He was knighted in 1902 for his contributions to Canadian literature and served as a Member of Parliament.

He died in London on September 6, 1932. Although his political career and imperial outlook shaped his public life, his lasting reputation rests chiefly on his vivid romantic and historical fiction set in Canada.