author
Sir Joseph Pope
1854–1926
A key figure behind Canada’s early federal government, this longtime civil servant worked closely with Sir John A. Macdonald and helped shape the country’s external affairs. He also left behind memoirs and political writings that offer a firsthand view of Canada’s formative years.
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About the author
Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in 1854, Sir Joseph Pope came from a prominent political family and began his career in government after early work in provincial administration and banking. He moved to Ottawa in 1878 and soon built a reputation as a capable, trusted public servant.
He is best known for serving as private secretary to Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald from 1882 to 1891. Later, he held senior posts in the Canadian civil service, including Assistant Clerk to the Privy Council and Under-Secretary of State, and from 1909 to 1925 he served as the first permanent under-secretary of the Department of External Affairs.
Pope was also an author whose books and memoirs helped preserve the political history of his era, including important material on Macdonald and public life in Canada. He was knighted for his service and is remembered as one of the most influential Canadian civil servants of his generation.