Read the story of a subject who died or was born on this day.
b. 6 Aug. 1845 in London, England
Of the many fine biographies in Volume XV of the DCB, Ramsay Cook always considered this one of the best.
Ramsay Cook called this biography “an especially fine piece of historical recreation.”
Ramsay Cook found this entry part of “a set of particularly brilliant biographies” that reveal the “destruction of the native culture on the prairies.”
In an office discussion of this briefest of biographies, Ramsay Cook called it “a gem.”
“sketched in brilliantly and with emotion… [this] exemplifies one of the finest qualities of the DCB: it is not a biographical boneyard”. (Ramsay Cook)
As General Editor, Ramsay read every biography. About this one he wrote “This is what makes the DCB so special! R.”
“[Thomas’ Riel] is perhaps the finest contribution to this volume [XI].” (Ramsay Cook)
“[Y]ou can search out your favourite character. Mine, without question, is Joseph Montferrand.” (Ramsay Cook)
“This a wonderful biography … It exemplifies what makes the DCB/DBC the extraordinary historical dictionary that it is.” (Ramsay Cook)