Oliver Goldsmith (1794–1861) was a Canadian poet born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. In 1822, he wrote some verses for an amateur theatre in Halifax. He is best known for The Rising Village, which appeared in 1825. It was at once the first book-length poem published by a native English-Canadian and the first book-length publication in England by a Canadian poet. Furthermore, his Autobiography is the first autobiography of a native Canadian writer.Lorne Pierce's Foreword to The Autobiography of Oliver Goldsmith, ed. Wilfrid E. Myatt (Toronto: Ryerson, 1943) He is not to be confused with his great-uncle Oliver Goldsmith, to whose celebrated poem The Deserted Village The Rising Village is a response.
In 1944, his name was added by the Canadian Government to its list of Persons of National Historic Significance.
See also
Canadian literature Canadian poetry List of Canadian poets
References
External links The Rising Village by Oliver Goldsmith (full text). Other Poems by Oliver Goldsmith Kenneth J. Hughes on "The Rising Village" David Jackel on "The Rising Village" A Short Biography of Oliver Goldsmith Department of English , St. Thomas University, at New Brunswick Literature Encyclopedia NBLE Goldsmith and the rising village, by D. M. R. Bentley, in "Studies in Canadian Literature", vol. 15, 1, 1990, English or French; University of New Brunswick