1861–1947
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Section 28 Lot 859
Born in Milton, Nova Scotia, Margaret Marshall Saunders grew up in a home filled with books, pets and a deep sense of compassion. Her father, a Baptist minister, and her mother, an advocate for social reform, instilled in her a love of learning and a commitment to justice. At 15, Margaret travelled to Scotland and France for schooling, an experience that broadened her horizons and shaped her literary style.
In an era when publishing was dominated by men, Saunders shortened her name to Marshall Saunders to gain acceptance in literary circles. Her first novel, My Spanish Sailor (1889), earned modest attention, but her second book changed Canadian literature forever. In 1893, she published Beautiful Joe, the true story of an abused dog rescued by a kind family. Told from the dog’s perspective, the novel won a prize from the American Humane Education Society and became a global sensation. It was the first Canadian publication to sell over one million copies, eventually reaching seven million, and was translated into multiple languages, including Esperanto and Braille.
Saunders was more than a writer; she was a reformer. Her stories championed animal welfare and social justice, tackling issues like child labour, poverty and urban reform. She co-founded the Maritime branch of the Canadian Women’s Press Club alongside Lucy Maud Montgomery and wrote extensively for newspapers on humane education and playground safety. Her advocacy earned her the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1934 and designation as a Person of National Historic Significance in 1947.
Margaret spent her later years in Toronto, where she continued to lecture and write despite financial struggles and declining health. She died on February 15, 1947, at the age of 85. Her grave marks the resting place of a woman whose words gave voice to the voiceless and inspired generations to treat animals, and each other, with kindness.
Sources:
• Wikipedia – Margaret Marshall Saunders
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Margaret Marshall Saunders
• Tales of Our Village – Margaret Marshall Saunders
Photos:
• Standing - Harkins and Johnstone (1902) Little Pilgramages among the Women Who Have Written Famous Books, L.C. Page & Co., Boston, Public domain
• Sitting - AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
