Background
He was born in Clarkson, Mississauga as the only son of his parents, Alvin and Catharine (née Nauman).
He was born in Clarkson, Mississauga as the only son of his parents, Alvin and Catharine (née Nauman).
They were farmers, and young Melvin had to help out with the daily chores besides his going to school, first in Clarkson, then in Oakville. He first ventured into journalism at the age of 14, when he became a correspondent for the Oakville Star. Three years later, he moved to Toronto, where he got a position with the Toronto Globe.
He started out as the secretary of the managing editor, but soon became a general reporter, and shortly afterwards was posted as a political reporter at Queen"s Park, the seat of the government of Ontario.
From 1903 to 1906, Hammond was sent to Ottawa, reporting for the Globe from Parliament Hill. After his return to Toronto, he worked in various editorial positions at the Globe until his death in autumn 1933.