Stephen Leacock

Date of Birth: December 30, 1869

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: March 28, 1944

Biography

Stephen Leacock was a renowned Canadian economist and humorist born on December 30, 1869, in Swanmore, Hampshire, England. He moved to Canada with his family in 1876, settling on a farm in Ontario. Leacock pursued higher education at the University of Toronto and later at the University of Chicago, where he earned his Ph.D. in political economy and political science. He is best known for his work as a professor of political economy at McGill University in Montreal, a position he held from 1903 until his retirement in 1936. Leacock was a prolific writer, penning numerous books and essays on economics, history, and humor. His humor often reflected the absurdities of everyday life and was widely popular during the early 20th century. Some of his most famous works include “Literary Lapses” (1910) and “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town” (1912).

5 Interesting Facts about Stephen Leacock

1. Leacock was awarded the Royal Society of Canada’s Lorne Pierce Medal in 1937 for his contributions to literature.

2. Despite his success as a humorist, Leacock considered his work in economics to be his most important contribution.

3. He served as the head of the Department of Economics and Political Science at McGill University.

4. Leacock’s works have been translated into multiple languages, expanding his influence beyond English-speaking countries.

5. Leacock also wrote extensively on education, advocating for reforms in the Canadian education system.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Stephen Leacock

1. “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

2. “Writing is not difficult, what is difficult is to sit down and write.”

3. “The classics are only primitive literature. They belong to the same class as primitive machinery and primitive music and primitive medicine.”

4. “The world is full of people who are trying to purchase self-confidence from a bottle.”

5. “Many a man in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole girl.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Stephen Leacock’s highest net worth is not accurately documented, but he was financially successful due to his prolific writing career and academic salary.