Lady Matilda Ridout Edgar

Born in Toronto on September 29, 1844, Matilda Ridout Edgar grew up in a prominent Upper Canadian family and later married lawyer and politician James David Edgar in 1865. After her husband was knighted in 1898, she became known as Lady Edgar. She was the mother of nine children, and much of her writing life began after years centered on family responsibilities.

In her forties, she moved seriously into historical research and writing. She published Ten Years of Upper Canada in Peace and War, 1805–1815 in 1890, followed by A Colonial Governor in Maryland in 1898 and General Brock in 1904. Her work drew on letters, journals, and other firsthand material, and she became known for making Canadian history feel lively and personal.

She was also active in public life beyond her books. Edgar served as the first president of the National Council of Women of Canada from 1893 to 1898, reflecting her strong interest in women's education, citizenship, and reform. She died in London, England, on September 29, 1910, leaving behind a body of work that joined careful research with a clear, readable style.