Albert Campbell (dogsled racer)
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | French-Cree (Métis) |
| Born |
17 April 1894 The Pas, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died |
November 30, 1961 (aged 67) Manitoba, Canada |
| Resting place | Saint Mary's Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Occupation | trapper, musher |
| Sport | |
| Country |
 Canada |
| Sport | Sled dog racing |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals |
1916 The Pas Dog Derby (1st) 1917 Red River Derby (1st) |
Albert Campbell (17 April 1894 – 30 November 1961) was a Canadian musher and trapper of French-Cree (Métis) descend. He gained popularity as a Canadian "national hero" after winning the 1917 Red River Derby sled dog race.
Life
Campbell was born in The Pas, Manitoba (Canada) in the family of Creek native John Campbell (1875 – 1917) and French Adeline Beauchamp (1877 – ?).[1] He won The Pas Dog Derby in 1916, the first annual of 150 miles (240 km) long dog sled race held in his hometown as a part of Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival.[2]
However, he became best known in 1917 for winning the Red River Derby, the Winnipeg – Saint Paul 522 miles (840 km) dog sled race, which was part of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival organized by the Saint Paul Outdoor Sports Carnival Association from 27 January to 3 February 1917.[3] His younger brother Gabriel, who also competed in the race, finished in fourth place. According to Campbell, by this success he fulfilled the last wish of his father, who died two weeks before the race started.[4] The race gained such widespread popularity that the Canadian government was reporting the news of the Campbell brothers' progress to the Canadian troops fighting overseas in the First World War.[5]
Albert Campbell died on 30 November 1961. He is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1] His story inspired the producers of the Iron Will film.
References
Sources
- Flynn, Brandon (2005-11-03). "Albert "Iron Will" Campbell". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
- Jarchow, Merrill E. (Winter 1971). "Hapless Hero: Frederick S. Hartman and the Winnipeg-to-St. Paul Dog Race". Minnesota History. 42 (8): 282–294. ISSN 0026-5497.
- Lambert, Sue (1983). Allen, Sydney J., ed. The Pas: gateway to northern Manitoba. The Pass: The Pas Historical Society. pp. 128–129. ISBN 088925415X.
- Mortensen, Debra J. (2010). Elk River. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738577200. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- "The 1917 Winnipeg-St. Paul Dogsled Race". Historically Speaking. Becker, MN: Sherburne County Historical Society. Winter 2004. OCLC 18889297. Retrieved 2014-07-11.