Memorable Manitobans: Robert Thomas Hodgson (1864-1950)

Robert Thomas Hodgson Click to enlarge

Educator, administrator.

Born at Guelph, Ontario in June 1864, he was educated at Queen’s University where he received an MA degree in 1899. He worked in geology in Ontario designing the management of industrial plants before coming to Manitoba.

In 1900, he accepted a position as science teacher at the Brandon Collegiate Institute. He later moved to Winnipeg to fill a position at the Central Collegiate and, in 1912, he was made Principal of the school. In 1914, he was transferred to Kelvin High School where he was Principal until his retirement in 1932. Influential in the teaching of science in Manitoba, he was known to link subject matter with practical applications. In 1908, he co-authored with Alexander McIntyre the book Elementary Science, a general science textbook used in the province.

He and wife Mary Lydia Charlton (1870-1922) had two children: Mary Isabel Hodgson (1907-1990, wife of ? Skene and ? Thiessen) and George Charlton Hodgson (1911-1999).

He died at his Winnipeg home, 759 Westminster Avenue, on 10 March 1950 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Hodgson House (759 Westminster Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth registrations [Mary Isabel Hodgson, George Charlton Hodgson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Death registration [Mary Lydia Hodgson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“R. Hodgson, former Kelvin head, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 March 1950. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 138]

Winnipeg School Days, 1871-1950 by Wilfred Gilbert Pearce, Winnipeg School Division, Education Resource Centre.

Obituary [Mary Isabel Thiessen], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1990, page 41.

Obituary [George Charlton Hodgson], Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1999, page 48.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Daly House Museum for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Sarah Ramsden and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 November 2022

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!