Longboat, Tom, 1887-1949

Tom Longboat (b. June 4, 1887, Brantford, Ontario–d. Jan. 9, 1949, Brantford, Ontario), was a distance runner. He was known as the "bulldog of Britannia."

A member of the Onondaga people and born on a Six Nations Indian reserve near Brantford, Ontario, he was infludenced to run by a Mohawk resident of the reserve, Bill Davis, who in 1901 finished second in the Boston Marathon. He began racing in 1905, finishing second in the Victoria Day race at Caledonia, Ontario. His first important victory was in the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton, Ontario in 1906. In 1907 he won the Boston Marathon in a record time of 2:24:24 over the old 24-1/2 mile course.

Longboat served as a dispatch runner in France in World War I while maintaining a professional career.