author
William Hodgson Ellis
1845–1921
A Canadian chemist and educator with a poet’s eye, he spent decades shaping applied science at the University of Toronto while also publishing nature-themed verse. His best-known book, Wayside Weeds (1914), shows a gentler, reflective side to a life rooted in teaching and research.
1 Audiobook
Wayside Weeds
by William Hodgson Ellis
About the author
Born in England in 1845, William Hodgson Ellis built his career in Canada and became a long-serving figure at the University of Toronto. He taught applied chemistry from the early years of the School of Practical Science and later served as Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering from 1914 until his retirement in 1919.
Alongside his scientific work, Ellis also wrote poetry. His collection Wayside Weeds, published in 1914, suggests a writer drawn to observation, everyday beauty, and the natural world.
That mix of scientist, teacher, and poet gives his work a distinctive charm. He stands out as someone whose professional life was devoted to practical knowledge, but whose writing leaves room for curiosity, feeling, and quiet delight.