author
William H. (William Henry) Atherton
1867–1950
A British-born Canadian historian and teacher, he became one of the best-known early chroniclers of Montreal's past. His books blend careful research with a lively feel for the city's people, institutions, and character.
3 Audiobooks
Montreal, 1535-1914. Vol. 1. Under the French Régime, 1535-1760
by William H. (William Henry) Atherton
Montreal from 1535 to 1914. Vol. 3. Biographical
by William H. (William Henry) Atherton
Montreal, 1535-1914. Vol. 2. Under British Rule, 1760-1914
by William H. (William Henry) Atherton
About the author
Born in England in 1867, he was educated in Jesuit schools, including Stonyhurst College and St Beuno's, and later built his career in Canada. After arriving in 1907, he taught at Loyola College in Montreal and became known as a writer, lecturer, and scholar with a deep interest in history, education, and public life.
He is best remembered for his work on Montreal's history, especially Montreal, 1535–1914, a major survey of the city from its earliest colonial period into the early twentieth century. He also wrote on the Catholic Church in Canada and on social and educational questions, helping preserve details of Montreal's institutions and development for later readers.
Atherton died in Montreal in 1950. His reputation has lasted as that of a patient researcher and engaging local historian whose work remains valuable to anyone curious about the growth of Montreal and the people who shaped it.