Politician. He became known as Canadian politician as well as an author of tales of his beloved country. After a short career in banking, he entered the Dominion of Canada's civil service where he achieved substantial political and diplomatic success in both domestic and foreign relations over a career spanning more than forty years. Served from 1882 to 1891 as principal secretary to Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, and later became Macdonald's official biographer. From 1889 to 1896, he was assistant clerk of the Privy Council, having been appointed by the prime minister. Served from 1896 to 1925 as Under Secretary of State for Canada, and became largely responsible for the government's correspondence related to foreign affairs. When the Dominion of Canada established its Department of External Affairs (later renamed Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in 1908, Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier appointed Pope its first head; and he served in this capacity until his retirement in 1925. He was greatly responsible for designing Canada's coat-of-arms, which was granted in 1921 by King George V. Pope is also credited with choosing Canada's motto for its coat-of-arms: "A Mari Usque ad Mare" ("From Sea to Sea"). A respected biographer and man of letters, his many publications include "Jacques Cartier: His Life and Voyages" in 1890, "Memoirs of the Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB., First Prime Minister of the Domain of Canada" in 1894, "Confederation: Being a Series of Hitherto Unpublished Documents Bearing on the British North America Act in 1895, "The Tour of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York Through the Dominion of Canada in 1901" in 1903, "The Flag of Canada" in 1912, "The Day of Sir John A. Macdonald" in 1915, and "Correspondence of Sir John Macdonald: Selections from the Correspondence of the Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, First Prime Minster of Canada; Made by His Literary Executor Sir Joseph Pope in 1921. Pope's posthumously published books include "Public Servant: The Memoirs of Sir Joseph Pope" in 1960), which was completed by his son Lieutenant-General Maurice A. Pope, and "Why I Became a Catholic" in 2001. For his service to Canada and the Crown, he was awarded with appointment to the Imperial Service Order (ISO), appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), and in 1912 he received a knighthood as a Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG). After his long service to Canada, the "Montreal Gazette" reported in 1925: "In the retirement of Sir Joseph Pope the Civil Service of Canada loses its most distinguished member. It is nearly half a century since he entered the service, and no contemporary, as few predecessors, has had so varied an experience nor gained greater reputation."