Tom Longboat
An Onondaga long-distance runner who shattered records and stereotypes in early 20th century athletics, becoming a hero to Indigenous communities.
1886–1949 (age 63)·Canadian distance runner·Birthday: July 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Tom Longboat was a force of nature who ran with a powerful, relentless style that left competitors in his dust. From the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, he burst onto the international scene by winning the 1907 Boston Marathon in record time, a victory that made him a star in Canada and a symbol of pride for Indigenous peoples. His career unfolded amid intense prejudice and the controlling influence of amateur athletic authorities, who often sought to manage his training and finances. Longboat famously turned professional, beating world champions in headline-making match races. His service as a dispatch runner in the mud and horror of the First World War, where he was twice wrongly reported dead, added a profound layer to his story. More than just a champion, Longboat navigated a world that was unprepared for an Indigenous athlete of his independence and talent.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Tom was born in 1886, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tom Was Born
The biggest hits of 1886
Tom's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1886Born
Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor
President: Grover Cleveland
1891Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1899Became a teenager
President: William McKinley
1902Could drive
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1904Could vote
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Turned 21
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Turned 30
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 40
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 50
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 60
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1949Died at 63
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
Key Achievements
- Won the 1907 Boston Marathon in a record time of 2:24:24, nearly five minutes faster than the previous best.
- Captured the professional marathon championship of the world in 1909 by defeating Alfie Shrubb in a highly publicized match race.
- Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Indian Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI, serving as a dispatch runner with exceptional endurance.
The Toronto Star once called him "the most famous Canadian in the world."
A major road in Toronto, Longboat Avenue, is named in his honor.
He lost the 1908 Olympic marathon due to collapse from improper dosing of stimulants by his handlers.
“I run to win. I don't look back.”
