Stephen Leacock (1869-1944)

Death: 28th March 1944
Location: St. George's Churchyard, Sibbald Point, Ontario, Canada
Cause of death: Cancer - throat
Photo taken by: oaktree_brian_1976 (grave in the shadow of the tree)
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English-born Canadian writer and humorist who began writing to supplement his regular income as a teacher. His stories, first published in magazines in Canada and the United States and later in novel form, became extremely popular around the world. It was said in 1911 that more people had heard of Stephen Leacock than had heard of Canada. Also, between the years 1915 and 1925, Leacock was the most popular humorist in the English-speaking world. 

His best known book of humorous sketches is Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town (1912). Leacock’s humorous style was reminiscent of Mark Twain and Charles Dickens at their sunniest. However, his Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich (1914) is a darker collection that satirises city life. In 1947, the Stephen Leacock Award was created to recognize the best in Canadian literary humour.