Biography of Ernest Seton-Thompson. E

Biography

Seton-Thompson

(Seton Thompson) Ernest (14/8/1860, South Shields, UK - 23/10/1946, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA), Canadian writer, animal artist, naturalist. In 1879 he graduated from the Toronto College of Art. He lived for a long time in forests and prairies. He wrote about 40 books, mainly about animals. The narrative was accompanied by precise and skillful drawings. He devoted several books to the life and folklore of Indians and Eskimos. The first work of S.-T. - “The Life of a Meadow Grouse” (1883).

His books “Wild Animals as I Know Them” (1898), “The Life of Those Who Are Hunted” (1901), as well as the 8-volume work “The Life of Wild Animals” (1925−27) brought him fame. Published the books “Biography of a Grizzly” (1900), “Birch Bark” (1902), “Book of the Forest” (1912), etc. Scientific accuracy in the books of S.-T. combined with entertaining presentation. He influenced many animal writers.

Ernest Seton-Thompson was born in Great Britain, South Shields, on August 14, 1860. His father, Seton, was noble family. The family moved to Canada when the guy was barely six years old. The father adjusted the force to his wife and son, so Ernest spent most of his time in the forest, sketching and studying its inhabitants. Tired of problems at home, the guy changes his name to Ernest Thompson-Seton (Thompson Seaton). In 1879 he received his education at the Toronto College of Art.

In 1883, the writer published his first work, “The Life of a Meadow Grouse.” Afterwards, thanks to his childhood observations of forest life, he wrote the collections “Wild Animals as I Know Them” in 1898, “The Lives of Those Who Are Hunted” in 1901 and “The Life of Wild Animals” in 1925, which brought Ernest fame in Canada and the USA. The illustrations in the books were handwritten by the writer himself, because six years of studying fine arts from 1890 to 1896 in Paris were not in vain.

Being a fan of forest life, the poet spends more and more time there. He writes about 40 books, most of which describe the inhabitants of the forest. In a couple of books he described the life of Eskimos and Indians. Ernest describes the theme of their everyday life and life in the wild in the book “Little Savages”.

Ernest meets a girl, Grace Gallatin, whom he marries in 1896. As a result, their only daughter, Ann, was born on January 23, 1904. After being married for 39 years, Ernest and Grace divorced, and a little later he tied the knot with Julia M. Butry. The couple could not have children of their own, so they decided to adopt, and in 1938, they adopted Beulah (Dee) Seton.

Ernest Seton-Thompson dies in America on October 23, 1946 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was cremated, keeping an urn containing his ashes for fourteen years, and in 1960 his daughter and grandson scattered his ashes from an airplane over the hills of Seaton Village.

Ernest Seton-Thompson(English) Ernest Thompson Seton, born Ernest Evan Thompson- Ernest Evan Thompson; in literature the variant is often found Ernest Thompson Seton) is a Canadian writer, animal artist, naturalist and public figure of British origin. One of the founders of the Scout movement in the USA. Since the United States played almost as significant a role in Seton's life as Canada, he can rightfully also be called an American writer.

Ernest Evan Thompson was born in the British city of South Shields. His father, Seton, came from an old English noble family. When Ernest was six years old, the family moved to Canada. Young Ernest often went into the woods to study and draw animals, mainly to avoid his violent father. Later, as a result of the estrangement between them, he changed his name to Ernest Thompson-Seton (or rather Thompson Seaton). Ernest graduated from the Toronto College of Art in 1879.
First literary work Seton-Thompson, “The Life of the Grouse,” was published in 1883. The writer became famous in the USA and Canada for his collections “Wild Animals as I Know Them” (1898), “The Lives of Those Who Are Hunted” (1901), and also the 8-volume work “The Life of Wild Animals” (1925-1927). Seton very skillfully drew illustrations for his stories and stories himself - his drawings are distinguished by their accuracy and expressiveness. From 1890 to 1896 Seton studied fine arts in Paris.
Not being a fan of city life, Seton lived for a long time in the forests and prairies. He wrote about 40 books, mainly about animals. He devoted several books to the life and folklore of Indians and Eskimos. Themes of Indian life and life in nature, among wild animals, were combined in the fascinating and informative autobiographical book “Little Savages.” Seton also published the books “Biography of a Grizzly Bear” (1900), “Birch Bark” (1902), “Book of the Forest” (1912), etc.
In 1906, the writer met Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts movement. Together they actively promoted the ideology of living in harmony with nature.
Seton became one of the founders literary genre works about animals; he had a powerful influence on many animal writers.
In 1896, Seton-Thompson married Grace Gallatin. On January 23, 1904, their only daughter, Ann, was born. She later became famous under the name Anya Seton as a best-selling author of historical and biographical books. Grace and Ernest divorced in 1935, and he soon married Julia M. Butry, who was also involved in literary activity(by herself and in collaboration with her husband). They did not have children of their own, but in 1938 they adopted a seven-year-old girl, Beulah (Dee) Seton, (married Dee Seton-Barber). In 1972, Soviet journalists Vasily Peskov and Boris Strelnikov visited her and they described this meeting in their book “The Land Beyond the Ocean.” Anya Seaton died in 1990, and Dee Seaton-Barber died in 2006.
Ernest Seton-Thompson died on October 23, 1946 in the American city of Santa Fe (New Mexico). His body was cremated and the urn with his ashes was kept in the house for fourteen years. In 1960, on the centenary of the writer's birth, his daughter Dee and grandson Seaton Cottier (Ani's son) took to the skies in an airplane and scattered his ashes over the hills of Seton Village.

Ernest Seton-Thompson short biography

Ernest Seton-Thompson- Canadian writer, animal artist, naturalist and public figure. One of the founders of the Scout movement in the USA.

Was born August 14, 1860 in the British city of South Shields. His father, Seton, was of a noble family. The family moved to Canada when the guy was barely six years old. As a child, Ernest often went into the forest to study and draw animals, avoiding his cruel father.

Ernest graduated from the Toronto College of Art in 1879.

Seton-Thompson's first literary work, The Life of a Prairie Grouse, was published in 1883. The writer became famous in the USA and Canada for his collections “Wild Animals as I Know Them” (1898), “The Life of Those Who Are Hunted” (1901), as well as the 8-volume work “The Life of Wild Animals” (1925-1927).

From 1890 to 1896, Seton studied fine art in Paris.

Not being a fan of city life, Ernest lived for a long time in the forests and prairies. He wrote about 40 books, mainly about animals. He devoted several books to the life and folklore of the Indians - “Little Savages”. Ernest also published the books “Biography of a Grizzly Bear” (1900), “Birch Bark” (1902), “The Book of the Forest” (1912) and many other books.

In 1906, the writer met Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts movement. Together they actively promoted the ideology of living in harmony with nature.

Seton-Thompson became one of the founders of the literary genre of works about animals.

Seton-Thompson has died October 23, 1946 in the American city of Santa Fe (New Mexico).

Personal life Ernest Seton-Thompson

In 1896, Seton-Thompson married Grace Gallatin. On January 23, 1904, their only daughter, Ann, was born. She later became famous under the name Anya Seton as a best-selling author of historical and biographical books. Grace and Ernest divorced in 1935, and he soon married Julia M. Butry, who was also engaged in literary activities (herself and in collaboration with her husband). They did not have children of their own, but in 1938 they adopted a seven-year-old girl, Beulah (Dee) Seton, (married Dee Seton-Barber).

Canadian-American writer and animal artist Ernest Seton-Thompson is of British descent. He was born in the small English town of South Shields, where he lived until he was six years old. Then the boy moved to Canada with his parents.

There he grew up surrounded by wild nature. Ernest's father was a farmer, and not far from their house there was a dense, shady forest where the writer liked to spend time as a child.

Even then, he fell in love with drawing and began carving animal figures from wood. After school, Ernest entered the Toronto College of Art. Having graduated in 1879, in 1883 he published his first work, “The Life of a Meadow Grouse.”

Seton-Thompson traveled a lot. Most of all, he liked to spend time in the prairies and forests, communicating with local fishermen and hunters. He was also interested in the life of the Eskimos and Indians, but his main hobby invariably remained animals.

Seton-Thompson's life experiences are reflected in his books. The writer created more than forty different works. His greatest fame came from such collections as “Wild Animals as I Know Them” (1898) and the eight-volume edition “The Life of Wild Animals,” written between 1925 and 1927. The autobiographical book “Little Savages” (1903) is dedicated to the life of the Indians.

The writer was also actively involved social activities related to the protection of wildlife. Therefore, he supported the scout movement and organized the Forestry League for Canadian youth.

Ernest Seton-Thompson died on October 23, 1946. At this time, the writer lived in the city of Santa Fe (USA).

Ernest Seton-Thompson (English Ernest Thompson Seton, born Ernest Evan Thompson - Ernest Evan Thompson; the variant Ernest Thompson Seton is often found in literature; August 14, 1860, South Shields, UK - October 23, 1946, Santa Fe, New Mexico , USA) - Canadian writer, animal artist, naturalist and public figure of British origin. One of the founders of the Scout movement in the USA.

Ernest was born in South Shields, UK. His father was a shipowner, and a very successful one at that. However, his affairs began to deteriorate when Ernest was about five years old. The family decided to start new life overseas. They lived on a farm near the town of Lindsay. It should be noted that Ernest considered this time the happiest in his childhood. The boy spent almost all his free time in forests and fields. He really fell in love with wild nature. This was partly because his father was prone to violence. The writer was not close to his family, so he changed his name to Ernest Seton-Thompson.

In 1870 the family moved to Toronto. The future writer's attitude towards nature has not changed. However, city life did not benefit the boy. He was very ill, so his parents sent him to a farm for treatment, where other owners lived who agreed to accept Ernest. He would later describe his childhood impressions of life on the farm in the book “Little Savages.”

Ernest returned to Toronto, where he graduated from high school, and also firmly decided to enroll in art college. However, his health got in the way again. Unfortunately, this time the fresh air treatment on the farm did not help; Ernest underwent serious treatment in Toronto, after which he began taking drawing lessons. After studying for a year at art school, Ernest went to London to improve his skills there. Ernest's drawings were once seen by the director of the British Museum. The works shocked him so much that he gave the young man a lifelong certificate, thanks to which he could visit all the museum’s repositories and libraries. Thompson's passion for ornithology dates back to the same period. He copied them from drawings, from life. However, his health deteriorated again. He worked a lot and led a half-starved existence.

Ernest returned to Canada. He made a living by drawing pictures for greeting cards, but in general he took on any job just to earn money.

In 1883, he published his first literary work, “The Life of a Meadow Grouse.” In the USA and Canada, he became popular after the collection “Wild Animals as I Know Them,” “The Lives of Those Who Are Hunted,” and the 8-volume work “The Lives of Wild Animals.” He drew pictures for books on his own. In addition, he wrote another 40 books, mostly about animals. Themes of Indian life and wild nature were combined in the autobiographical story “Little Savages.”

In 1906 he met Lord Baden-Powell, who founded the Boy Scouts movement. Together they worked to promote this movement. Seton-Thompson married in 1894. He had an only daughter, who in the future would become a famous author of historical and biographical works. In 1935 he married again. There were two children from this marriage.

Seton-Thompson exhibited his paintings in Europe and the USA. Even President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned a painting of the leader wolf from him. The Theodore Roosevelt Gallery is currently exhibiting this painting. The author's books have been translated into many languages ​​of the world and reprinted several times.

Seton-Thompson himself bought a house near Santa Fe, USA. The writer died in 1946. He was cremated, and in 1960, on the centenary of the writer’s birth, his ashes were scattered by his grandchildren over Seaton Village from an airplane.