John Galt | |
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Born | Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland | 2 May 1779
Died | 11 April 1839 Greenock, Scotland | (aged 59)
Occupation | Writer, colonial businessman |
Nationality | Scottish |
Period | 1812–1839 |
Genre | poetry, drama, short stories, travel writing |
Notable works | Annals of the Parish The Chronicle of Dalmailing, The Entail |
Spouse | Elizabeth Tilloch |
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John Galt (/ɡɔːlt/; 2 May 1779 – 11 April 1839) was a Scottish novelist, entrepreneur, and political and social commentator. Galt has been called the first political novelist in the English language,[1] due to being the first novelist to deal with issues of the Industrial Revolution.
Galt was the first superintendent of the Canada Company (1826–1829). The company was formed to populate a part of what is now Southern Ontario (then known as Upper Canada) in the first half of the 19th century; it was later called "the most important single attempt at settlement in Canadian history".[2]
In 1829, Galt was recalled to Great Britain[3] for mismanagement of the Canada Company (particularly incompetent bookkeeping), and was later jailed for failing to pay his son's tuition.[4] Galt's Autobiography, published in London in 1833, includes a discussion of his life and work in Upper Canada.[5]
He was the father of Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt of Montreal, Quebec.
Plaque #4
From Library and Archives Canada