William George Beers (May 5, 1843 – December 26, 1900)[1] was a Canadian dentist who founded Canada's first dental journal and served as the founding dean of the Dental College of the Province of Quebec. In addition, he is referred to as the "father of modern lacrosse" for his work establishing the first set of playing rules for the game.
Beers was a successful and notable dentist. After finishing his schooling in 1856, Beers completed a dental apprenticeship. By the early 1860s, Beers was a successful dentist and began publishing article in journals.[1] In 1868, he founded Canada's first dental journal, the Canada Journal of Dental Science.[2] Although this publication failed, he went on to start the Dominion Dental Journal in 1889, which eventually became the modern day Journal of the Canadian Dental Association. He was instrumental in the founding of Quebec's first dental college - the Dental College of the Province of Quebec, founded in 1892 and served as its founding dean.[3] In 1896, this College became affiliated with Bishop's University and later became the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry. He held the position of Dean at Bishop's for only a short time; differences in opinion regarding curriculum and concerns over the use of untrained dental assistants led Beers to resign from the position.[4]
Nationalism
Beers was a strong Canadian nationalist. Besides advocating for lacrosse to become the national sport of Canada believing it would serve as "unifying symbol for the emerging Canadian nationality," Beers also defended the country against the Fenian Raids in 1866 and 1870.[5] During the raids, Beers helped establish the Victoria Rifles of Canada.[6]
Lacrosse
William Beers was involved with lacrosse from a young age. As a teenager in 1856 he was a member of the Montreal Lacrosse Club. He was selected at the age of 17 to be a goalkeeper for a Montreal exhibition team that played a match before the Prince of Wales.
In 1860, Beers began to codify the first written rules of the modern game. Prior to this, all rules of the game needed to be decided prior to each game. Some of the rules established by Beers were the size of, and the use of a rubber lacrosse ball, that the lacrosse stick could be any length, but the pocket needed to be flat in the absence of a ball, length of the field to 200 yards (180 m), size of the goal and goal crease, twelve members of a team on the field at a time, and the length of a match to first to reach five goals, or lead by three.[7][8]
In 1867, as lacrosse was growing significantly in popularity, Beers created the Canadian National Lacrosse Foundation. In 1869, Beers published a book on lacrosse entitled Lacrosse: The National Game of Canada. In 1876, Beers organized a team of Canadian players and Indians players to tour England, Scotland, and Ireland to showcase the sport.[9] During this trip in 1876, Queen Victoria witnessed an exhibition game and was impressed, saying "The game is very pretty to watch." Her endorsement was enough for many English girls' schools to adopt the sport in the 1890s.[10] Again in 1883, Beers returned to England to showcase lacrosse. This time Beers brought two teams to play exhibition game.[9]
Bibliography
Wikisource has original works by or about: William George Beers
Beers, William George (1869). Lacrosse: The National Game of Canada. Dawson Brothers (sanctioned by "National Lacrosse Association of Canada"). pp. 256. ISBN9780665056826. Lacrosse: The National Game of Canada.
References
^ abWest, J. Thomas (1990). "Beers, William George". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XII (1891–1900) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
^"Bibliography of Canadian Health Sciences Periodicals". Retrieved July 1, 2015.
^Nicholl, Christopher (1994). Bishop's University, 1843-1970. McGill-Queen's Press. pp. 342 pages. ISBN0-7735-1176-8.
^Nicholl, Christopher (1994). Bishop's University, 1843-1970. McGill-Queen's Press. pp. 373 pages. ISBN0-7735-1176-8.
^Fisher, Donald M. (2002). Lacrosse: A History of the Game. JHU Press. p. 29. ISBN0-8018-6938-2. william beers nla.
^"Victoria Rifles of Canada fonds (P190)". McCord Museum of Canadian History. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
^Scott, Bob; Scott, Robert (1978). Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition. JHU Press. ISBN0-8018-2060-X.
^. STX Lacrosse. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
^ ab"Death of Noted Lacrosse Player" (PDF). New York Times. January 6, 1901. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
Works by William George Beers at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
February 27, 2023
william, george, beers, 1843, december, 1900, canadian, dentist, founded, canada, first, dental, journal, served, founding, dean, dental, college, province, quebec, addition, referred, father, modern, lacrosse, work, establishing, first, playing, rules, game, . William George Beers May 5 1843 December 26 1900 1 was a Canadian dentist who founded Canada s first dental journal and served as the founding dean of the Dental College of the Province of Quebec In addition he is referred to as the father of modern lacrosse for his work establishing the first set of playing rules for the game William George BeersA portrait of Beers taken in 1868Born 1843 05 05 May 5 1843Montreal Canada East Province of Canada British EmpireDiedDecember 26 1900 1900 12 26 aged 57 Montreal Quebec CanadaNationalityCanadianOccupationDentistKnown for Father of modern lacrosse Contents 1 Dentistry 2 Nationalism 3 Lacrosse 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksDentistry Edit The first issue of the Dominion Dental Journal Beers was a successful and notable dentist After finishing his schooling in 1856 Beers completed a dental apprenticeship By the early 1860s Beers was a successful dentist and began publishing article in journals 1 In 1868 he founded Canada s first dental journal the Canada Journal of Dental Science 2 Although this publication failed he went on to start the Dominion Dental Journal in 1889 which eventually became the modern day Journal of the Canadian Dental Association He was instrumental in the founding of Quebec s first dental college the Dental College of the Province of Quebec founded in 1892 and served as its founding dean 3 In 1896 this College became affiliated with Bishop s University and later became the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry He held the position of Dean at Bishop s for only a short time differences in opinion regarding curriculum and concerns over the use of untrained dental assistants led Beers to resign from the position 4 Nationalism EditBeers was a strong Canadian nationalist Besides advocating for lacrosse to become the national sport of Canada believing it would serve as unifying symbol for the emerging Canadian nationality Beers also defended the country against the Fenian Raids in 1866 and 1870 5 During the raids Beers helped establish the Victoria Rifles of Canada 6 Lacrosse EditWilliam Beers was involved with lacrosse from a young age As a teenager in 1856 he was a member of the Montreal Lacrosse Club He was selected at the age of 17 to be a goalkeeper for a Montreal exhibition team that played a match before the Prince of Wales In 1860 Beers began to codify the first written rules of the modern game Prior to this all rules of the game needed to be decided prior to each game Some of the rules established by Beers were the size of and the use of a rubber lacrosse ball that the lacrosse stick could be any length but the pocket needed to be flat in the absence of a ball length of the field to 200 yards 180 m size of the goal and goal crease twelve members of a team on the field at a time and the length of a match to first to reach five goals or lead by three 7 8 In 1867 as lacrosse was growing significantly in popularity Beers created the Canadian National Lacrosse Foundation In 1869 Beers published a book on lacrosse entitled Lacrosse The National Game of Canada In 1876 Beers organized a team of Canadian players and Indians players to tour England Scotland and Ireland to showcase the sport 9 During this trip in 1876 Queen Victoria witnessed an exhibition game and was impressed saying The game is very pretty to watch Her endorsement was enough for many English girls schools to adopt the sport in the 1890s 10 Again in 1883 Beers returned to England to showcase lacrosse This time Beers brought two teams to play exhibition game 9 Bibliography Edit Wikisource has original works by or about William George Beers Beers William George 1869 Lacrosse The National Game of Canada Dawson Brothers sanctioned by National Lacrosse Association of Canada pp 256 ISBN 9780665056826 Lacrosse The National Game of Canada References Edit a b West J Thomas 1990 Beers William George In Halpenny Francess G ed Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol XII 1891 1900 online ed University of Toronto Press Retrieved December 30 2008 Bibliography of Canadian Health Sciences Periodicals Retrieved July 1 2015 Nicholl Christopher 1994 Bishop s University 1843 1970 McGill Queen s Press pp 342 pages ISBN 0 7735 1176 8 Nicholl Christopher 1994 Bishop s University 1843 1970 McGill Queen s Press pp 373 pages ISBN 0 7735 1176 8 Fisher Donald M 2002 Lacrosse A History of the Game JHU Press p 29 ISBN 0 8018 6938 2 william beers nla Victoria Rifles of Canada fonds P190 McCord Museum of Canadian History Retrieved December 30 2008 Scott Bob Scott Robert 1978 Lacrosse Technique and Tradition JHU Press ISBN 0 8018 2060 X Lacrosse History STX Lacrosse Archived from the original on April 6 2008 Retrieved November 17 2008 a b Death of Noted Lacrosse Player PDF New York Times January 6 1901 Retrieved December 30 2008 Origin of Men s Lacrosse FIL External links EditWorks by William George Beers at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William George Beers amp oldid 1140761448, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
