William Wood

Born in Quebec City in 1864, William Charles Henry Wood grew into one of Canada’s best-known historical writers of the early twentieth century. He is commonly listed simply as William Wood, but the fuller name helps distinguish him from many others with the same surname. Alongside his writing, he also served in the Royal Rifles of Canada and was active in public and intellectual life in Quebec.

Wood wrote history for general readers as well as serious students. Among the books most often associated with him are The Fight for Canada, The Father of British Canada, and works on the War of 1812, including The War with the United States. He also contributed to larger historical projects about Quebec and helped shape how many readers first encountered Canada’s colonial past.

Sources consulted during this search also describe him as a Scout leader and naturalist, which fits the wide range of interests attached to his career. He died in 1947, leaving behind a body of work that blends patriotic storytelling with a strong sense of place, especially Quebec and the St. Lawrence world.