George McCullagh
Encyclopedia
Clement George McCullagh (March 16, 1905 – August 5, 1952) was an influential Canadian newspaper owner between 1936-52. He created The Globe and Mail
by merging the Liberal-allied Globe and Conservative-allied Mail and Empire newspapers in 1936. He was also actively involved in Canadian politics and later owned the Toronto Telegram
newspaper.
on March 16, 1905. As a youth, he delivered the Globe newspaper to local homes and built a reputation for sales within the newspaper's circulation department.
He dropped out of school with only a Grade 9 education. The Globe rejected his request to be a junior reporter; instead employing him as a subscription agent in London at age 16. He quickly earned several promotions, moved to Toronto and finally shifted into the editorial department. He was the assistant financial editor with a specialization in northern mining development by age 22.
The Ontario Liberal Party
, including Premier Mitchell Hepburn
, believed The Globe and Mail would be a strong ally. McCullagh had served as a principal adviser to Hepburn's successful 1934 election bid and, in 1936, Hepburn appointed McCullagh to the Board of Governors of the University of Toronto
. Editorials and articles in the first editions were supportive of the provincial government, but within a year, McCullagh became discontented and pushed the Ontario Conservative and Liberal parties to form a coalition government
. Hepburn proposed the option to the Conservatives but they refused.
McCullagh launched a series of radio broadcasts in 1939 to promote his nonpartisan vision for Canadian politics. The series led to the creation of the Leadership League, an early concept lobby group for stronger and smaller government and a one party system directed by business interests—a concept criticized as "fascist" by opponents such as the Toronto Star
. The league achieved an estimated 101,900 ballots for membership but was underfunded and disorganized. McCullagh folded it within a year.
McCullagh later supported the Ontario Conservative Party and its leader George A. Drew.
for $3.6 million. The purchase gave him control of two of the three big daily newspapers in Toronto with a daily circulation of 414,515.
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
by merging the Liberal-allied Globe and Conservative-allied Mail and Empire newspapers in 1936. He was also actively involved in Canadian politics and later owned the Toronto Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
newspaper.
Early life
McCullagh was born to Anne Catherine McCullagh, a housewife, and George H. McCullagh, a local cabinet maker, in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
on March 16, 1905. As a youth, he delivered the Globe newspaper to local homes and built a reputation for sales within the newspaper's circulation department.
He dropped out of school with only a Grade 9 education. The Globe rejected his request to be a junior reporter; instead employing him as a subscription agent in London at age 16. He quickly earned several promotions, moved to Toronto and finally shifted into the editorial department. He was the assistant financial editor with a specialization in northern mining development by age 22.
Financial career
He left the Globe to become a floor man at the Toronto Stock Exchange for Milner, Ross and Co. and specialized in oil, mining and gold share sales. He later partnered with Richard Barrett to establish the firm Barrett, McCullagh and Co. By age 30, he was estimated to be worth more than a million dollars.The Globe and Mail
McCullagh purchased the Globe for $1.3 million and Mail and Empire for $2.5 million in 1936. The first publication of the Globe and Mail was distributed in Toronto on November 23, 1936. McCullagh named himself the publisher.The Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
, including Premier Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
, believed The Globe and Mail would be a strong ally. McCullagh had served as a principal adviser to Hepburn's successful 1934 election bid and, in 1936, Hepburn appointed McCullagh to the Board of Governors of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Editorials and articles in the first editions were supportive of the provincial government, but within a year, McCullagh became discontented and pushed the Ontario Conservative and Liberal parties to form a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
. Hepburn proposed the option to the Conservatives but they refused.
McCullagh launched a series of radio broadcasts in 1939 to promote his nonpartisan vision for Canadian politics. The series led to the creation of the Leadership League, an early concept lobby group for stronger and smaller government and a one party system directed by business interests—a concept criticized as "fascist" by opponents such as the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
. The league achieved an estimated 101,900 ballots for membership but was underfunded and disorganized. McCullagh folded it within a year.
McCullagh later supported the Ontario Conservative Party and its leader George A. Drew.
Toronto Telegram
In 1946, at age 43, McCullagh bought the 72-year-old Toronto TelegramToronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
for $3.6 million. The purchase gave him control of two of the three big daily newspapers in Toronto with a daily circulation of 414,515.