Fred Williams (journalist)

Frederick George H. Williams (January 13, 1863 in Clapham, London, United Kingdom – June 16, 1944 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was an English–Canadian journalist, writer, and historian.[2][3]

Fred Williams
Born
Frederick George Hilary Williams

(1863-01-13)January 13, 1863
Clapham, London, United Kingdom
DiedJune 16, 1944(1944-06-16) (aged 81)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeSt. James Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CitizenshipCanadian
OccupationJournalist, writer, and historian
Years active1882–1944
Organization
Spouse(s)Aley Mary Shonfeld
Children
Parent(s)
Relatives
AwardsNorth West Canada Medal[1]
A young Fred Williams.

Background

Fred Williams was the son of the respected war correspondent and journalist Charles Frederick Williams, and of Georgina Gould Ward.[4]

Career

Newspaper

Fred Williams began his newspaper career in January 1882 at the age of 19 serving first at the Montreal Herald and later at the Montreal Gazette. His career in journalism would span more than sixty years. He also served The Montreal Star, The Toronto News, The Ottawa Free Press, The Victoria Colonist, The Vancouver Sun, The Toronto Mail and Empire, and The Globe and Mail. He went to Australia as a reporter from 1893–1896. He served as a city editor, telegraph editor, news editor, editorial writer as well as a reporter. He became a freelance writer in 1918 with a syndicated column on Canadian history.[2][5]

Williams also covered Canadian federal politics as a member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa for 25 years and served on its executive.[2] He knew Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and all the eminent men who were their colleagues and successors.[4] On June 6, 1891, Williams was the reporter on duty who was first reported the death of Prime Minister MacDonald. The two greatest speeches he ever heard were both by Canadian Prime Minister Laurier given in the Canadian Parliament. The first was a tribute to Prime Minister MacDonald on the occasion of his death. The second was in praise of Queen Victoria following her death in 1901.[5] His work in the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery was recognized as he left the Ottawa Free Press for British Columbia in 1912 at a farewell party that included an engraved gold handled silk umbrella and valuable case of pipes.[6]

By the end of his career in journalism that spanned 62 years, he was referred to as the "grand old man of journalism."[7]

Canadian history
The 1934 Canadian 10-cent stamp featuring the 150th anniversary of the United Empire Loyalists being established in Canada.

One of his contributions to a popular understanding of Canadian history was his regular series of articles reviewing events that occurred on particular dates in Canada's story. Through these articles, he was said to have done more than any other individual to make Canadians "history conscious" through his care to provide an authentic and accurate portrayal of events. The series first began with the Toronto Mail and Empire newspaper with a daily feature entitled "Do You Know?" This series was eventually syndicated and quoted across the continent. The Montreal Gazette remarked, "Day by day Mr. Williams delves into the history of this country bringing to light finer details of the past than our present histories contain. He goes into the byways of forgotten places, breathes life into the character of an earlier age and keeps before us historical dates we are too apt to forget."[8] He also had a syndicated column through the Toronto Daily Star known as "Lest We Forget" that also recounted Canadian history.[7] Williams gave historical talks to encourage an appreciation of Canadian history and was enjoyed as a speaker.[9][10]

In 1934, a Canadian 10-cent stamp featuring the 150th anniversary of the United Empire Loyalists being established in Canada was the result of William's suggestion. Williams was referred to as "the brilliant Ontario historian."[11] This stamp was awarded fourth place among the postage stamp designs of 1934 by a world consensus of philatelists.[12]

Currently, his article on the death of John Crooks of the War of 1812 is featured on the Ontario War of 1812 history website.[13]

Author

Williams and his wife Aley Mary Shonfeld Williams co-authored The Canadian Book of Days in 1924.[14]

Others

Williams also served as a gunner with the Montreal Garrison Artillery that was sent in 1885 to combat the Northwest Rebellion in Manitoba.[15] He fought in the battles of Fish Creek, Cut Knife, and Batoche. He received the North West Canada Medal for his service. Their trip constituted the first passenger train trip from Montreal to Winnipeg.[1][16]

Fred Williams first learned of the death of his father, Charles Williams, the famous war correspondent, on the wire service he was monitoring at his newspaper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[17]

Death

Williams died on June 16, 1944 at his home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the age of 81.[4][18] The funeral was held at St. James Cathedral in Toronto and was led by the Dean of Toronto and rector, C. E. Riley.[19] In attendance at the funeral of Fred Williams were the leading publishers and journalists of Canada. Among the honorary pallbearers were J.E. Atkinson, Main Johnson and Russell Fox of The Toronto Star; George McCullagh, Hector Charlesworth, J. V. McAree and A. A. McIntosh of The Globe and Mail, C. O. Knowles of the Evening Telegram; B. K. Sandwell, Saturday Night magazine; H. Napier Moore and Lieut.-Col. J. B. Maclean, Macleans Publications; C. H. Carpenter, the Montreal Gazette; E. Norman Smith, the Ottawa Journal; Floyd S. Chalmers, the Financial Post; and F. D. J. Smith, formerly with the Mail and Empire.[19] At his funeral, he was referred to as "the dean of Canadian journalists" and "the grand old man of journalism." One newspaper in its obituary described him as someone who "stood alone" in his field whose "friends were legion." He was buried at St. James Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario with military honours.[7][19]

References
  1. "WILLIAMS, Frederick George Hilary". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  2. Vineberg, Avel (January 13, 1942). "60 Years in Ranks of Journalism Marked by Fred Williams Today". Montreal Gazette. 171 (11). p. 11. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  3. "New U.E.L. Branch Formed in Toronto". Toronto Daily Star. December 26, 1933. p. 23.
  4. "Fred Williams, 62 Years Reporter, Dies in Toronto". The Ottawa Journal. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. June 16, 1944.
  5. Bassett, John Jr. (1940). "Last Days of Sir John A. Recalled By Journalist". The Globe and Mail.
  6. "Presentation to Fred Williams". The Ottawa Evening Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. July 24, 1912.
  7. "A Fine Example of Courageous Living". Toronto Daily Star. June 17, 1944.
  8. "Scotstown Notes". The Sherbrooke Telegram. 2 (34). January 4, 1934. p. 5.
  9. "Journalist of Fifty Years Reviews Women's Evolution". Toronto Daily Star. January 1, 1932.
  10. "Why Laurier was named Wilfrid". Montreal Gazette. 164 (288). December 2, 1935. p. 10.
  11. Philantelist (July 5, 1934). "Stamp Collecting: The Hobby of Kings". The Sherbrooke Telegram. 3 (8). p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  12. "Canada~The United Empire Loyalists". Stamp Community. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  13. ""A Notable Niagara Centennial"- Newspaper article written by Fred Williams". Our Ontario. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  14. Williams, Fred G. H.; Williams, Aley Mary (September 1924). The Canadian Book of Days. Ontario, Canada.
  15. "Rebellion Veterans Honor Men Who Fell". Toronto Star. July 29, 1935.
  16. Williams, Fred (May 15, 1925). "First C.P.R. Train to Winnipeg". Montreal Gazette. 154 (116). p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  17. "The late Mr. Charles Williams." Coleraine Constitution and Northern Counties Advertiser, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 27 February 1904.
  18. "Canadian Newspaperman for 62 Years Dies in Toronto, 81". The New York Times. June 17, 1944.
  19. "Sound Historic Bugle at Williams' Funeral". Toronto Daily Star. June 20, 1944. p. 4.
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