Item 0018 - Letter, 26 May 1879

Rev. George Bryce was born on April 22, 1844, in Mount Pleasant, Ontario.

He was a Manitoba Presbyterian educator, churchman, scientist, and historian. He was educated at the University of Toronto and Knox College, where his success as a student was marked with medals and scholarships. He was an athlete, playing on the college football team. He had served as a militia volunteer during the Fenian troubles of 1866. In 1871, he was selected by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to come west to Red River (now Manitoba) to organize a Presbyterian college and a new church. He set up Manitoba College and taught there until 1909. In 1872, he founded Knox Church, the first Presbyterian church in Winnipeg. He was also one of the founders of the University of Manitoba where he taught science and served on the University Council until his retirement in 1904. He served as President of the Manitoba Historical and Scientific Society (1884-1887, 1905-1913). He was a prolific author who wrote nine books and forty or fifty pamphlets as well as numerous sermons and speeches. In 1910, he served as the Royal Society’s President. In 1921, he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Manitoba.

In 1872, he married Marion Samuels (1839–1920). He died on August 5, 1931, in Carleton, Ontario.