Canadian general and administrator, born at Napperton, ON, on the 5th of December 1875. On the outbreak of the World War his natural bent for military affairs quickly brought him to the front. He commanded the 1st Canadian Division 1914–17, and the Canadian Corps in France 1917–19. He gained the confidence of the English military authorities in the field, and when Lord Byng resigned his command of the Canadian troops Sir Arthur Currie was the one Canadian to whom it was felt by the British Headquarters that the command could be entrusted. The manner in which he carried out his command marked him by common consent a military leader of unusual distinction. In the concluding phases of the war the Canadian forces under his command played a notable part. Currie was given the C.B. in 1915, K.C.M.G. 1917, K.C.B. 1918 and G.C.M.G. 1919; he was awarded the French Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre both of France and of Belgium, and was created Grand Officer of the Belgian Ordre de la Couronne. In 1920, after Sir Auckland Geddes had finally declined the nomination to the principalship of McGill University, Montreal, on his appointment as British ambassador to Washington, Sir Arthur Currie was elected to the post.
