author
J. George (John George) Hodgins
1821–1912
An Irish-born educator and historian, he helped shape public education in Ontario for decades while also writing school texts and major works on Canadian history and education. His long career made him one of the key record-keepers of how the province’s school system developed.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Dublin in 1821, he came to Canada in 1833 and was educated at Upper Canada Academy, Victoria College, and the University of Toronto. He built a long career in education administration and became a close associate of Egerton Ryerson, serving in what became Ontario’s Department of Education for many years.
He is especially remembered for his work as a civil servant, educational organizer, and prolific author. Sources on his papers and career describe him as a major figure in Ontario education, and his published works include schoolbooks, historical writing, and the extensive Documentary History of Education in Upper Canada.
He died in Toronto in 1912. For readers interested in the history behind classrooms, policy, and public schooling in Canada, his work offers both firsthand experience and a detailed record of a system being built.