Cyril Poole was born in Pilley's Island, Newfoundland, and was educated at Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto. Following a career as teacher and administrator in several universities, he was editor in chief of volumes three to five of the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, and in 1998 published a biography of M.O. Morgan. Author of several books of humourous essays, Poole was awarded the first Ted Russell Award for Humour. Awarded honorary doctorates by Mount Allison University, the University of New Brunswick, and Memorial University of Newfoundland, in 1991 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.