Robert W. Service

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Robert W. Service

Robert W. Service (January 16, 1874 – September 11, 1958) was a British-Canadian poet and writer, often referred to as "the Bard of the Yukon". He is best known for his poems about the Klondike Gold Rush and the Canadian North. His vivid and often humorous verse made him one of the most popular and financially successful poets of the early 20th century.

Early Life

Robert William Service was born in Preston, Lancashire, England. He was the eldest of ten children. At the age of five, he was sent to live with his paternal grandfather and three aunts in Kilwinning, Scotland. Service attended the University of Glasgow, where he studied English literature.

Career

Service emigrated to Canada in 1894, initially working as a bank clerk in Victoria, British Columbia. He later moved to the Yukon Territory, where he worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Whitehorse and Dawson City. It was during this time that he began writing the poems that would make him famous.

The Klondike Gold Rush

Service's most famous works are set during the Klondike Gold Rush, a period of mass migration to the Klondike region of the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1896 and 1899. His first collection of poetry, Songs of a Sourdough (1907), was an immediate success and included some of his best-known poems, such as "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee".

Later Works

Service continued to write poetry and prose throughout his life. His other notable works include Ballads of a Cheechako (1909), Rhymes of a Red Cross Man (1916), and Ploughman of the Moon (1945). He also wrote several novels, including The Trail of '98 (1910) and The Roughneck (1923).

Personal Life

Service married Germaine Bourgoin in 1913, and the couple had one daughter. They lived in various locations, including Paris, France, and Monte Carlo, Monaco. Service spent his later years in Lancieux, France, where he continued to write until his death in 1958.

Legacy

Robert W. Service's work remains popular, particularly in Canada and Alaska. His poems have been adapted into songs, films, and stage productions. He is commemorated in various ways, including the Robert Service School in Dawson City and the Robert Service Cabin in Whitehorse.

Related Pages

• Klondike Gold Rush
• Songs of a Sourdough
• The Shooting of Dan McGrew
• The Cremation of Sam McGee
• Canadian literature
• Yukon