Roberts, Theodore Goodridge

Theodore Goodridge Roberts was an author, poet, and journalist from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Born in 1877, he was the younger brother of Charles G. D. Roberts. He attended the University of New Brunswick, but did not graduate, however, later in life he was granted an honourary Doctorate of Literature from the university. His first poem was published when he was eleven-years-old, and he wrote prolifically for the rest of his life. He found work with The Independent and moved to New York City in 1897, and lived there with his brothers. In 1898, he went to Tampa, Florida to cover the Spanish-American war, but contracted malaria aboard a ship to Cuba, and was sent back to Fredericton to convalesce. Afterwards, he went to Newfoundland for three years, helping to found The Newfoundland Magazine. His time there inspired numerous written works, including writings on the Beothuk people. A five month sea journey to the Caribbean and South America inspired other poems and stories, but a relapse of malaria sent him back to New York, where he fell in love with and married his nurse, Frances Seymour Allen. He and wife lived in various places over their lives, and had four children. In 1914, Roberts enlisted in the army, and was eventually commissioned a Lieutenant in 1915, in the 12th Battalion of the Canadian Army, then was promoted to Captain in 1916. He established Acadie magazine in 1930. He passed away in Digby, Nova Scotia in 1953.

Some of his publications include: Northland Lyrics (1899, The House of Isstens (1900), Comrades of the Trails (1910), The Harbour Master (1913), The Wasp (1914), Thirty Canadian V.C.’s (1918), and many more. He published over 30 novels throughout his lifetime, as well as poetry and stories.