A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography. Various

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A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography - Various


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been Miss Jane McMillan. His school education began at the Quebec Seminary and was continued at Laval University, where he went through a successful course in belles lettres and collateral studies. Thereafter he entered McGill University, where in 1864 he took his degree of M.D. On the following year he entered upon his career as a medical man in his native city, where, in 1868, he married Miss Amelia Scott, daughter of A. S. Scott. At the time of his graduation, the Civil War between the Northern and Southern States of the American Republic was nearing its climax, and in the excitement of events an opportunity offered itself to the young student to mature his skill in surgery and the healing art on the battlefield. He was given employment in the army in North Virginia, which was then under the command of General Ulysses Grant. As an assistant surgeon he remained with that army up to the time of General Lee’s surrender, his faithfulness and skill bringing him to the notice of his medical associates and eventually to the notice of the General in person. After the war, Dr. Bender proceeded to New York to gain further professional experience in the hospitals, before entering upon the first period of his residence in Quebec as a medical practitioner. During that period he came into touch with several of the rising public men of the town, who made a kind of literary rendezvous of his residence, much as years afterwards the Circle de Dix used to hold their seances out at Spencer Wood, under the hospital auspices of Sir Adolphe Chapleau. The social gatherings at Dr. Bender’s had no doubt the effect of turning the attention of the successful physician to literary work, leading him to publish two volumes, respectfully titled, “Literary Sheaves,” and “Old and New Canada.” In 1884 he removed to Boston, where he practised as a homeopathist, and won a reputation among the literary men of that city, as a contributor to the magazines and reviews. Within the last ten years preceding his death in 1917, he had his residence again in Quebec. During these years he published in amplified form a series of sketches about the friends of his earlier comradeship. These sketches embodied the characteristics of the brilliant literary guests who had once met round his table, and were read with the greatest of interest by the public as they appeared from time to time, as an illustration of the author’s geniality of spirit and literary acumen. Altogether, Dr. Prosper Bender’s professional and literary career stood as a blend of duly recognized medical skill and critical literary insight, holding always the confidence of his patients and being widely esteemed for his bonhomie and intellectuality as a writer of books worth reading.

      HON. ARTHUR L. SIFTON

       Ottawa

      Pardee, Frederick Forsyth, K.C., M.P. (Sarnia, Ont.), son of the late Hon. Timothy Blair Pardee and Emma K. Pardee, née Forsyth, was born at Sarnia, Ontario, on December 29, 1867, and was educated at the Sarnia School and at Upper Canada College. He subsequently entered the study of Law and graduated at Osgoode Hall, being called to the Bar in 1890. He was created a King’s Counsel in 1908, and became head of the law firm of Pardee, Burnham & Gurd. In his student days and in the earlier years of his professional career he took a keen interest in various athletics and was a cricket player of note. He married, on December 31, 1892, Mary E. Johnston, daughter of Hugh Johnston, and to them was born one daughter, Pauline L. Early in life Mr. Pardee began to interest himself in public problems and public affairs, and in 1898, when but 31 years of age, he was chosen as Liberal candidate for the provincial riding of West Lambton, being elected to the Legislature of Ontario the same year. He sat in the Provincial House until 1902, when he was defeated by Hon. W. J. Hanna, who subsequently became


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