The
death took place at Stratford on Friday of William Buckingham, a well
known citizen of that place. Deceased was at one time a familiar figure
in Canadian journalism and in Canadian politics, and was one of the most
forceful writers Canada has produced.
He began his
newspaper career as a shorthand writer on the English press, and came to
Canada to take a position on the Toronto Globe. In this capacity
he reported many of the confederation debates.
In 1859, in company
with William Coldwell, another Toronto journalist, he proceeded to the
Red River Settlement (now Winnipeg), where they established the Nor'Wester,
the first newspaper published in that exposed outpost of civilization,
having transmitted press material from St. Paul, Minn., on a six week
journey by ox cart.
After returning
from the Northwest Mr. Buckingham came to Simcoe and purchased the Erie
News from its founder, Dr. William Oliver. His first act of
ownership was to change the name of the paper to The Norfolk Reformer.
He lived here from
1861 to 1863, and in that time formed a connection with Hon. M. H.
Foley, then a prominent figure in Canadian public life, and when Foley
became postmaster-general, young Buckingham was appointed his private
secretary and inspector of city post offices.
Resigning these
offices and disposing of The Reformer late in 1863, he became
proprietor and editor of the Stratford-Beacon, and made of it a
journal of wide influence and circulation. He accompanied the delegates
from Canada to complete terms of union for the B.N.A. provinces as
official reporter.
On the accession of
Hon. Alexander Mackenzie to office he became private secretary to that
gentleman, and was afterwards appointed deputy minister of the interior,
a position of which he was deprived by Sir John A. Macdonald who
however, offered him another civil service appointment which he
declined.
He also declined an
appointment as inspector of prisons and public charities for Ontario.
Still later he declined the office of business manager of the Toronto
Globe, as well as that of representative in the enterprise of the
then virtual publisher, Mr. Nelson of Edinburgh.
Of late years his
time had been taken up with the duties of manager of the British
Mortgage Loan Co., of Stratford, a position which he held almost up to
the time of his death, which occurred at the advanced age of 83.
Deceased was a
master of English literature, and of English and Canadian history, and
was also one of the most gifted writers. His most noted production was
the authorship con-jointly with the late Sir George W. Ross of the Life
and Times of Mackenzie.
In politics he was
a staunch Liberal, and was a devoted member of the Church of England,
while in every relation of life he observed the highest ideals.
He married Miss
Martha Phelps of Mt. Pleasant, Brant County, and leaves besides the
widow, three sons and three daughters, namely: Walter Buckingham of
Guelph; Norman Buckingham of Victoria, B.C.; Gordon Buckingham of
Winnipeg; Mrs. (Dr.) J. A. Marquis of Brantford; Mrs. James Riddell of
Stratford; and Mrs. Hurlbut of North Battleford. T. H. Preston of the Brantford
Expositor is a nephew.
