Duncan Macpherson

Duncan Ian Macpherson, CM (September 20, 1924 in Toronto – May 3, 1993 in Beaverton, Ontario) was a Canadian editorial cartoonist. He drew for the Montreal Standard (starting 1948) and for Maclean's, illustrating the writings of Gregory Clark and Robert Thomas Allen. He is most famous for his humorous political cartoons for the Toronto Star; from 1958 until 1993. His syndicated cartoons appeared in seven other Canadian newspapers, in Time, The New York Times, Chicago Daily News and nearly 150 newspapers across the world. Career Born in Toronto, Macpherson dropped out of high school in 1941, aged 17 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and serve in World War II. While stationed in England, he began taking art classes, and also studied the cartoons of British cartoonist David Low. He left the army in 1946. In 1947, with the death of his father he briefly took over the family textile business. In 1948, he studied at the school of Boston Museum of Fine Arts and also in that year he began working for Montreal Standard. In 1950, he continued his course of study at the Ontario College of Art. In 1958, he joined the Toronto Star where readers tended to identify with "the poor little guy" in his cartoons. His work has been described as "a combination of Mary Poppins, Mark Twain, and Attila the Hun" with "peerless draftsmanship in the classical tradition — savagery made sublime". but his humour always was directed against pomposity of all kinds. Terry Mosher, the editorial cartoonist who draws under the name Aislin, in his book Professional Heckler: The Life and Art of Duncan Macpherson wrote of him:"Macpherson drew as well, if not better, than any other Canadian artist who comes to mind. He combined that talent with a diamond-drill wit". "He inspired me and a generation (or two) of others working in the same field". In 1965, Macpherson exhibited his work with its bold and distinctive brushwork at the Art Gallery of Toronto (later renamed the Art Gallery of Ontario). Among the books published by the Toronto Star and Macpherson of his work was MacPherson: World Events Reportage Drawings the Editorial Cartoon by John Brehl (1966). In 1969, Macpherson's Canada by Macpherson was published by The Star. In 1971, he produced a series of 100 drawings and 15 watercolours documenting the Front de libération du Québec trial. In 1978, Macmillan published Editorial cartoons 1978: 136 selected cartoons by Macpherson.