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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... lives and pay tribute to these pioneers who accomplished these well - nigh impossible feats and who , through their efforts , have made possible our present way of life . My uncle , George Mercer Dawson , was one of these pioneer ...
... live in Montreal when his father2 became principal of McGill College in 1855. George was a robust child , but at the age of eleven or twelve became ill from a severe chill contracted by playing in the cold spring water of the McGill ...
... lives even , for the cause of Christ . Now these two persons wished to be thought very good , tho they were not ready to make the real sacrifice ; so a spark of sin in the form of deceit sprung up in NO ORDINARY MAN / 15.
... lives of wicked men you meet with there , how much Sin is like a fire . We shall find too , that the men who did such evil deeds , did not become bad all at once , oh , no ; if you will go to them and hear their account of themselves ...
... live in salt water : in many tropical rivers Crocadiles and Aligaters shelfish also inhabit rivers but not of < so > { such } beautiful colours as those which live in the sea though some especially in tropical rivers are very pretty ...
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 |