author
Oscar D. (Oscar Douglas) Skelton
1878–1941
A sharp-minded Canadian scholar turned public servant, he helped shape his country’s independent voice in world affairs while also writing on politics, economics, and history. His career bridged the classroom and government at a time when Canada was defining itself on the international stage.
3 Audiobooks
The Canadian Dominion: A Chronicle of Our Northern Neighbor
by Oscar D. (Oscar Douglas) Skelton
The Railway Builders: A Chronicle of Overland Highways
by Oscar D. (Oscar Douglas) Skelton
The Day of Sir Wilfrid Laurier: A Chronicle of Our Own Time
by Oscar D. (Oscar Douglas) Skelton
About the author
Born in Orangeville, Ontario, on July 13, 1878, Oscar Douglas Skelton studied at Queen’s University and later earned a PhD at the University of Chicago. He built his early reputation as a professor at Queen’s, where he taught political science and economics and wrote books and essays on Canadian political and economic life.
Skelton is best remembered for his work in public service. In 1925 he became under-secretary of state for external affairs, a senior role he held until his death in 1941. In that position, he was a close adviser to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and played an important part in developing a more independent Canadian foreign policy.
He died in Ottawa on January 28, 1941. Today, he is often remembered as both an influential civil servant and a thoughtful writer whose ideas helped define Canada’s place in the world.