Duncan Macpherson
Encyclopedia
Duncan Ian Macpherson, CM
(September 20, 1924 in Toronto
– May 3, 1993 in Beaverton, Ontario
) was a Canadian editorial cartoonist
. He drew for the Montreal Standard
(starting 1948) and for Maclean's
he illustrated the writings of Gregory Clark and Robert Thomas Allen. He is most famous for his work with the Toronto Star
; from 1958 until 1993.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(September 20, 1924 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
– May 3, 1993 in Beaverton, Ontario
Beaverton, Ontario
Beaverton is a community in Brock Township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada.Originally part of Thorah Township in Ontario County, Beaverton was first settled in 1822. The settlement is located on Lake Simcoe at the mouth of the Beaver River...
) was a Canadian editorial cartoonist
Canadian comics
In spite of U.S. dominance of comic book sales in Canada and the overwhelming number of U.S. comic strips printed in Canadian newspapers there is such a thing as Canadian Comics. The only area where there is no American dominance is editorial cartoons...
. He drew for the Montreal Standard
Montreal Standard
The Montreal Standard was a newspaper in Montreal, Quebec from 1905-1951 and founded by Hugh Graham, 1st Baron Atholstan. It began in 1905 as a Saturday-only newspaper on the model of the Illustrated London News; that is, current events using photographs and news stories. The Standard became more...
(starting 1948) and for Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
he illustrated the writings of Gregory Clark and Robert Thomas Allen. He is most famous for his work with the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
; from 1958 until 1993.
Timeline of important events
- In 1941 Macpherson dropped out of high schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at age of 17 to join the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and serve in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While stationed in England, he began taking art classes, and also studied the cartoons of British cartoonist David Low.
- He left the army 1946.
- In 1947 with the death of his father he briefly takes over the family textile business.
- In 1948 studies at the school of Boston Museum of Fine Art.
- In 1948 he is working for Montreal Standard.
- In 1950 he continued his course of study at the Ontario College of Art.
- In 1958 joins Toronto Star.
- 1959 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- 1960 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- 1962 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- In 1965 exhibits his work at the Art Gallery of Toronto (later named the Art Gallery of OntarioArt Gallery of OntarioUnder the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
). - 1965 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- 1970 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- 1972 wins National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning.
- In 1980 retires for Toronto Star for the first time.
- On April 25, 1993 Macpherson retires from the Star, and dies eight days later.http://www.canadiancartoonists.com/news_article_macpherson.html
- Duncan Macpherson was well known for his ruthless style. Terry MosherTerry MosherChristopher Terry Mosher, OC is a Canadian political cartoonist for the Montreal Gazette. He draws under the name "Aislin", a rendition of the name of his eldest daughter Aislinn ....
refers to him as the "king of the third wave." One of Macpherson's most celebrated cartoons featured John DiefenbakerJohn DiefenbakerJohn George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
as Marie AntoinetteMarie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
saying "Let them eat cake," after Diefenbaker cancelled the Avro Arrow project and its 14,000 jobs. Pierre BertonPierre BertonPierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
said this cartoon was "the beginning, I think, of the country's disillusionment with the Diefenbaker government...scarcely anybody had taken a crack at Diefenbaker until then."
Awards and honours
- Molson PrizeMolson PrizeThe Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts is awarded by The Canada Council for the Arts. Two prizes are awarded annually to distinguished individuals. One prize is awarded in the arts, one in the social sciences and humanities...
: 1970. http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/molson/nw127237760511562500.htm - National Newspaper Award for Editorial Cartooning: 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1970, 1972. http://www.canadiancartoonists.com/news_nna.html
- News Hall of Fame: 1976
- Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
: 1987. http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=2417 - Royal Academy Medal
See also
- Macpherson's illustration of cover of Needham's Inferno (1966), by Richard J. NeedhamRichard J. NeedhamRichard J. Needham was a Canadian humour columnist for The Globe and Mail.Many of his columns were collected in a variety of books, including The Garden of Needham and Needham's Inferno, which won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 1967.Needham also coined Mop and Pail and Grope and...