author

Samuel Thompson

1810–1886

A printer, editor, and businessman who helped shape early Toronto journalism, he also left behind a lively firsthand memoir of pioneer life in Canada. His writing blends personal adventure with a close-up view of political and social change in the 1800s.

1 Audiobook

Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the last Fifty Years: An Autobiography

Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the last Fifty Years: An Autobiography

by Samuel Thompson

About the author

Born in London on August 27, 1810, he trained in printing before emigrating to Upper Canada in 1833 with his brothers. After time spent farming, he moved to Toronto in 1837, where he entered the newspaper world and built a long career as a printer, editor, politician, and businessman.

He is especially remembered for his connection to Toronto journalism, including work with the Patriot, and for the way his career intersected with the turbulent public life of 19th-century Canada. His experiences during the era of the Upper Canada Rebellion and the growth of Toronto gave him unusual material for later writing.

His best-known book, Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the Last Fifty Years: An Autobiography (1884), draws on those decades of experience to paint a vivid picture of settlement, city life, and public affairs. He died in Toronto on July 8, 1886.