No Ordinary Man: George Mercer DawsonGeorge Mercer Dawson was indeed no ordinary man. Born in 1849, son of the first Principal of McGill University, Dawson defied health circumstances that would have defeated many people and went on to become one of our most exceptional Canadians. As a geologist in the British North American Boundary Commission between Canada and the U.S.A. and as Director of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1895, Dawson examined and explored every aspect of Canada's unknown territories. This collection of writings, letters, diaries and essays begins with the young George and moves through his developing years to his adult life. "He climbed, walked and rode on horseback over more of Canada than any other member of the Geological Survey of Canada at that time -- yet to look at him, one would not think him capable of a day's hard physical labour .... It was his hand that first traced upon vacant maps the geological formations of the Yukon and much of British Columbia." "To read about him is like taking a drink of water from a cool, unpolluted spring. His sense of values was so great that he once said he didn't care much for money or possessions. All he wanted was what he could hold in his canoe." |
From inside the book
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... half to sixty - five million years ago , where they may be locally present in sufficient numbers to be major rock - building constituents . 23 Probably Jane Torrance ( 1812-1875 ) the wife of. March 20th . 1861 . Miss came this morning ...
... half an ower early this morning after school I went over to the Baynses to ask for Ohara who was not at school after dinner I went down town and spent twenty pence on paper and envelopes . a gentle- man took tea with us tonight after ...
... half an hour in the afternoon mama read to us a little after tea and when I was in bed April 9th . 1861 . Miss came today after lessons I went out a little while after dinner I went down town with papa he went to Frothinghams and ...
... half past nine and went to bed . Saturday July 22nd . Waited till nearly 11 for Anna and Mrs Simpson as soon as they came we drove to the houses of Parliment and spent some time going through them ; we saw the throne in the house of ...
... half from here , and got some heather , we then drove to Birkenhead Park , we took a short walk in it and then drove home . Tuesday September 12th . I stayed in the house and garden today all day , reading & c . In the evening papa ...
Contents
Life and Exploration on the Western Frontier | 122 |
Dawson and the Yukon | 143 |
Ethnological Endeavours | 148 |
Glimpses at Georges Personal Life | 152 |
An Enduring Friend | 155 |
A Loyal Son and Sibling | 169 |
The Bering Sea Commission | 175 |
A WideRanging Mind | 182 |
43 | |
A Voyage by Sail to Great Britain | 49 |
First Year at the Royal School of Mines London 186970 | 57 |
Summer 1870 with Parents in Scotland | 69 |
Second Year at the Royal School of Mines 187071 | 71 |
A Summer of Field Work in the English Lake District | 79 |
Third Year at the Royal School of Mines 187172 | 84 |
GeologistNaturalist on the British North American Boundary Commission | 101 |
Enduring Achievements with the Geological Survey of Canada | 119 |
Selected Poems of George Mercer Dawson | 185 |
Science and Exploration in Canada | 194 |
The Lasting Legacy of George Mercer Dawson | 197 |
For Further Reading | 200 |
About the Author | 201 |
About the Editor | 202 |
Visual Credits | 203 |
Index | 204 |