Louisa Watson Small Peat
Encyclopedia
Louisa Watson Small Peat (1883–1952) was a lecturer and writer who was born in Keady
, County Armagh
, Ireland
, in 1883. After attending Queens College, Belfast, Louisa Small also attended the University of London
.
She worked in London
, first for the Daily Chronicle
and later for Herbert N. Casson
, managing the London office. The British Government employed Miss Small as an efficiency lecturer in 1915. Attempting to locate her cousin, John O'Donnell Watson, who was serving in a Canadian Battalion from Alberta
, at the front during World War I
, Miss Small had advertised looking for news and received many responses, including a letter from a Canadian soldier, Harold R. Peat
, who had served with the Third (Canadian) Battalion. Peat, was then recuperating from action at Ypres
, at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich
. Eventually they became a couple and married. Together, they wrote Private Peat,, a best-selling account of a soldier under fire during the Great War. Her memoir of this period Mrs. Private Peat was published in 1918.
Harold Peat sent for Miss Small to join him in Canada
and they were married on August 24, 1916. The Irving (?) Rossiter Family in Winnipeg
assisted the bride with settling in North America. They lived in Chicago
where two daughters were born, Louisa "Pat" Watson Foreman Peat (O'Neil) and Julienne Michelle "Miki" Peat (Ruse). The family lived for a period in Vancouver
, Canada, where their third child, Elizabeth "Betty" Peat, was born. Betty Peat married Boleslaw Gladych
.
The couple lectured and toured, promoting their books. The Inexcusable Lie which was published in 1923, is a treatise against nationalism and destructive patriotism that wastes the youth of nations.
During the 1920s Louisa and Harold Peat traveled around North America on the Redpath Chatauqua Circuit with their growing family. Archives at the University of Iowa
contain programs and advertisements of their lectures which were mainly concerned with ensuring peace and promoting democracy.
In the late 1920s or early 1930s, Louisa Peat settled in Michigan City, Indiana
and worked as an editor for the women's section of the Michigan City News-Dispatch paper. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, Louisa Watson Small Peat moved to New York City
to continue her writing career. During that time, she was ghost writing for various authors, including Sydney Robert Montague.
After World War II
, Louisa Peat published Canada, New World Power and in 1950 Grandma Did It This Way, Memories of an Irish Childhood.
Louisa Watson Small Peat died in 1953 at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
Keady
Keady is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated south of Armagh city and very close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The town had a population of 2,960 people in the 2001 Census....
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, in 1883. After attending Queens College, Belfast, Louisa Small also attended the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
She worked in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, first for the Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle
The Daily Chronicle was a British newspaper that was published from 1872 to 1930 when it merged with the Daily News to become the News Chronicle.-History:...
and later for Herbert N. Casson
Herbert Newton Casson
Herbert Newton Casson was a Canadian journalist and author who wrote primarily about technology and business....
, managing the London office. The British Government employed Miss Small as an efficiency lecturer in 1915. Attempting to locate her cousin, John O'Donnell Watson, who was serving in a Canadian Battalion from Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, at the front during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Miss Small had advertised looking for news and received many responses, including a letter from a Canadian soldier, Harold R. Peat
Harold R. Peat
Harold Reginald Peat was a Canadian soldier and author.Born in Jamaica, and emigrated to Toronto with his mother, Peat was educated privately and at boarding school in Kingston, Jamaica. In August 1916 he married Louisa Watson Small. Louisa Watson Small was born in Keady, Armagh, Ireland and...
, who had served with the Third (Canadian) Battalion. Peat, was then recuperating from action at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. Eventually they became a couple and married. Together, they wrote Private Peat,, a best-selling account of a soldier under fire during the Great War. Her memoir of this period Mrs. Private Peat was published in 1918.
Harold Peat sent for Miss Small to join him in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and they were married on August 24, 1916. The Irving (?) Rossiter Family in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
assisted the bride with settling in North America. They lived in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where two daughters were born, Louisa "Pat" Watson Foreman Peat (O'Neil) and Julienne Michelle "Miki" Peat (Ruse). The family lived for a period in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada, where their third child, Elizabeth "Betty" Peat, was born. Betty Peat married Boleslaw Gladych
Boleslaw Gladych
Bolesław Michal Gładych was a Polish fighter pilot, a flying ace of the World War II. He was born in Warsaw.-Polish Air Force:...
.
The couple lectured and toured, promoting their books. The Inexcusable Lie which was published in 1923, is a treatise against nationalism and destructive patriotism that wastes the youth of nations.
During the 1920s Louisa and Harold Peat traveled around North America on the Redpath Chatauqua Circuit with their growing family. Archives at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
contain programs and advertisements of their lectures which were mainly concerned with ensuring peace and promoting democracy.
In the late 1920s or early 1930s, Louisa Peat settled in Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
and worked as an editor for the women's section of the Michigan City News-Dispatch paper. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, Louisa Watson Small Peat moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to continue her writing career. During that time, she was ghost writing for various authors, including Sydney Robert Montague.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Louisa Peat published Canada, New World Power and in 1950 Grandma Did It This Way, Memories of an Irish Childhood.
Louisa Watson Small Peat died in 1953 at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
Writings
- Mrs. Private Peat (1918)
- Canada New World Power (1945)
- Grandma Did It This Way (1950)