George Pattullo was a Canadian-born journalist, editor, and author who gained prominence in the early twentieth century for his vivid depictions of the American West and his front-line reporting during World War I. Born in Woodstock, Ontario, in 1879, Pattullo was educated at the Woodstock Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto. He began his career in journalism working for newspapers in Montreal and London before moving to Boston, where he served as an editor for the Boston Herald.
Pattullo's literary career was deeply influenced by his travels through the American West between 1908 and 1910, which he explored alongside photographer Erwin Smith. These journeys inspired a wealth of short stories and novels capturing Western life, which were published in popular periodicals of the era, including the Saturday Evening Post, McClure's Magazine, American Magazine, and Popular Magazine. One of his Western-themed stories served as the basis for the 1921 silent film Gasoline Gus.
During World War I, Pattullo served as a war correspondent. He achieved historical note as the first journalist to report on the extraordinary wartime heroism of U.S. soldier Alvin C. York. Following his active writing career, Pattullo lived in the United States, marrying Lucile Wilson of Dallas, Texas. He passed away in New York City in 1967.
