Ham, George Henry

DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Valerie Knowles, “HAM, GEORGE HENRY,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/ham_george_henry_15E.html
DCB profile notes:
- Journalist, office holder, author, and railway publicity manager and lobbyist; b. 23 Aug. 1847 in Trent Port (Trenton), Upper Canada, son of John Vandal Ham and Eliza Anne Eleanor Clute; m. 24 Dec. 1870 Martha Helen Blow in Shannonville, Ont., and they had two daughters and three sons; d. 16 April 1926 in Montreal and was buried in Whitby, Ont.
- George Ham was the son of a country doctor of United Empire Loyalist stock who gave up his medical practice to study law. In 1851 the Hams took up residence in Whitby, where George attended the Henry Street School and then the Whitby Grammar School. Dr Ham wanted his son to become a lawyer, but George baulked at the idea because, in his words, few of the lawyers he knew “had achieved high distinction and greatly accumulated wealth.” Instead, he took up journalism, obtaining his first employment at the Whitby Chroniclein 1865. As a reporter, he showed considerable enterprise and talent. Failing health, however, prompted him to try his hand at a variety of other pursuits.
- After working briefly for newspapers in Guelph and Uxbridge and serving as a correspondent for the Toronto press, Ham set off in May 1875 for Winnipeg. There he obtained a job at the Manitoba Free Press as a compositor and began to write unsigned humorous articles. These attracted the attention of the paper’s editor, William Fisher Luxton, who, on learning the author’s identity, promoted Ham to the editorial department. Ham soon rose to become city editor.
- In late October 1879 Ham launched his own paper, the Winnipeg Daily Tribune. When it amalgamated a few months later with the Daily Times, another Winnipeg paper, he became managing editor of the joint publication. Ill health forced him to leave regular newspaper work in 1882 and to take up the less demanding occupation of registrar of deeds for Selkirk.
- A pillar of the Winnipeg community, Ham had been elected to Winnipeg City Council as alderman for Ward 1 in 1883, 1884, and 1887. During the 1880s he also served as a school trustee and for some time between 1883 and 1885 as a commissioner under the McCarthy Act, the federal liquor licensing act. In 1888 Ham wrote and published his first book, The new west, a description of the region’s potential. It and two subsequent works – The flitting of the gods (1906) and Reminiscences of a raconteur (1921) – are notable for the glimpses that they provide of his wit and philosophy.
- It was not until he joined the Canadian Pacific Railway, however, that Ham found his true calling, that of “Ambassador-At-Large,” one of several unofficial titles by which he became known.
- In his work for the CPR, Ham accompanied parties of newspaper reporters and other excursions across Canada, entertained special guests, spoke at public functions, and represented the company at expositions and fairs. He was particularly adept at the promotion of tourism and he became one of the most popular and best-known men in Canada.
- George Ham, with his large frame, trademark slouch hat, ill-fitting suit, and brilliant wit was one of the most colourful figures of his day. He was also a big-hearted, clever man, whose many talents found their fullest expression in the work that he did for the CPR. By just being himself he won many friends for the company and Canada and at the same time made his name synonymous with CPR tourism.
Great Grandson of Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=3502
Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138774729/george-henry-ham