by George J. Dance
Jesse Edgar Middleton (November 3, 1872 - May 27, 1960) was a Canadian poet and songwriter,[1] best known for writing the English lyrics to the "Huron Carol."
Jesse Edgar Middleton (1872-1960) in Canadian Singers and their Songs, 1919. Courtesy Internet Archive.
| J. Edgar Middleton | |
|---|---|
 Middleton in Canadian Poets (1916) | |
| Born |
Jesse Edgar Middleton November 3, 1872 Pilkington, Ontario |
| Died |
May 27, 1960 (aged 87) Toronto, Ontario |
| Occupation | songwriter, journalist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality |
 Canadian |
| Citizenship | British subject |
| Notable work(s) | "The Huron Carol" |
| Spouse(s) | Bessie A. Jackson |
| Children | one son |
Life[]
===Youth and education Middleton was born in Pilkington, Ontario, the son of Margaret (Agar) and Rev. Eli Middleton, a Methodist minister.[2]
He attended Dutton High School and Strathroy Collegiate.[2]
Marriage and career[]
Middleton taught school for 3 years, and then became a proofreader in Cleveland, Ohio, for 3 years.[2]
In 1899 he married Bessie A. Jackson, who bore him a son.[2]
He became music critic for the Mail and Empire, and in 1904 joined The News, where he wrote a column, "On the Side." He led the choir at Centennial Methodist Church, and sang in Toronto's Mendelssohn Choir.[2]
He translated the "Huron Carol" (originally written in the Wendot language by Jean de Brebeu circa 1643) in 1926.[3]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- Sea Dogs and Men at Arms: A Canadian book of songs. New York & London: Putnam, 1918.
Novels[]
- Green Plush. London: Methuen, 1932.
- The Clever Ones. London & New York: Nelson, 1936.
Non-fiction[]
- Music and the Theatre in Canada. [Toronto?]: 1913.
- The Municipality of Toronto: A history. Toronto: Dominion Publishing, 1923.
- The Province of Ontario: A history, 1657-1927 (with Fred Landon). Toronto: Dominion Publishing, 1927-1928.
- The Romance of Ontario. Toronto: W.J. Gage, 1931.
- Toronto's 100 Years. Toronto: Centennial Committee, 1934.
- A Pageant of Nursing in Canada. Toronto: Canadian Nurses' Association, 1934.
Edited[]
- National Encyclopedia of Canadian Biography (Middleton & W. Scott Downs, directing editors). Toronto: Dominion Publishing, 1935-1937.
Anthologized[]
- "The Colonial," "Off Heligoland," "Hell's Half Acre": Canadian Poets (edited by John Garvin). Toronto: McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart, 1916.[2]
- "Jesous Ahatonhia (The Huron Carol)": Canadian Poetry in English (compiled by Bliss Carman, Lorne Pierce, and V.B. Rhodenizer). Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1954.[4]
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[5]
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ "Middlton, Jesse Edgar (1872-1960)," Representative Poetry Online, University of Toronto, UToronto.ca, Web, Dec. 24, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 John Garvin, "J. Edgar Middleton," Canadian Poets (Toronto: McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart, 1916), 459, UPenn.edu. Web, Dec. 24, 2011.
- ↑ "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," CyberHymnal, Web, Dec. 24, 2011.
- ↑ Jesous Ahatonhia, Representative Poetry Online, University of Toronto, UToronto.ca, Web, Apr. 8, 2012.
- ↑ Search results = au:Jesse Edgar Middleton, WorldCat, OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, Oct. 13, 2013.
External links[]
- Poems
- "The Huron Carol"
- J. Edgar Middleton (3 poems} in Canadian Poets
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