Catharine Parr Traill

This article is about the English-Canadian author and naturalist. For the British Queen Consort of King Henry VIII, see Catherine Parr.

Catharine Parr Traill
Catharine Parr Traill, Canadian settler and author
Catharine Parr Traill, Canadian settler and author
BornCatharine Parr Strickland
(1802-01-09)9 January 1802
Southwark, England
Died29 August 1899(1899-08-29) (aged 97)
Lakefield, Ontario, Canada
OccupationAuthor, naturalist
GenreChildren's and Settler Literature

Catharine Parr Traill[1] (born Strickland; 9 January 1802 – 29 August 1899) was an English-Canadian author and naturalist who wrote about life in Canada, particularly what is now Ontario (then the colony of Upper Canada). In the 1830s, Canada covered an area considerably smaller than today. At the time, most of Upper Canada had not been explored by European settlers.[2]

Throughout her long life, Traill wrote to generate income in support of her family.[1] She wrote 24 books covering topics ranging from her life as a settler in Ontario to natural history, especially botany. Traill is considered a pioneer of Canada's natural history.[1] Through her writing, she related the colonial experience and described the natural environment of Upper Canada for English readers.[3]

Traill is considered an amateur botanist, because at the time, it was not possible for women to hold professional, paid positions.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Fowler, Marian; James-Abra, Erin (11 February 2019). "Catharine Parr Traill". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020.
  2. ^ "The Countryside of the Two Canadas". Canada: a people's history. 2001. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  3. ^ Fara, Patricia (2007). Scientists anonymous : great stories of women in science. Thriplow: Icon. ISBN 9781840468403. OCLC 137222064.
  4. ^ Shteir, Ann, ed. (9 August 2022). Flora's Fieldworkers. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-2280-1346-4.