James McGill
Encyclopedia
James McGill was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, military commander and philanthropist known for being the founder of McGill University
. He was also a prominent member of the Château Clique
.
James McGill was born on Stockwell Street in Glasgow, Scotland and educated at Glasgow University
, he had emigrated to Canada by 1766, and entered the fur trade
south of the Great Lakes
, at first as a clerk or agent for the Quebec merchant, William Grant
of St. Roch. By the next year, the firm of "James McGill & Co." was trading at Michilimackinac
. In 1773, McGill joined with Isaac Todd
in a trading venture beyond Grand Portage, which was renewed under the name Todd & McGill in 1776 . This partnership was important in the formation of what would become the North West Company
. Todd & McGill prospered, as one of the main firms supplied by the London commission merchant, John Strettell
. The partnership did not participate in the North West Company after 1783, but it continued in the so-called "Southwest trade" in the Mississippi valley until Michilimackinac was handed over to the Americans in 1796. It was also involved in other enterprises, but few business papers have survived, making a detailed account difficult.
In November of 1775, McGill was a member of the representation for the citizens of Montreal at the drafting of the articles of capitulation for the city to the invading American army
.
McGill was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Montreal West in 1792 and appointed to the Executive Council in 1793. He was elected again in 1800 and in Montreal East in 1804.
He was the first honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment The Canadian Grenadier Guards
, which name is marked upon the replicated cairn that stands before the Arts building of McGill University.
As a fur trader, slave owner and land owner, he further diversified his activities into land speculation. By 1810 had abandoned the fur trade altogether. Rumoured to be the richest man in Montreal, he left a great deal of money to charity, including an estate and £10,000 to the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning to found McGill University
.
James McGill was buried, alongside his fur-trading associate, John Porteous, in the old Protestant "Dufferin Square Cemetery". When the cemetery was eradicated in 1875, his remains were reinterred in front of the Arts Building on the university campus.
Plaques are displayed on Stockwell Street, Glasgow
commemorating his birthplace and his foundation of the university, and in the undercroft of Bute Hall at Glasgow University, recognizing the historic link between Glasgow and McGill
universities. The birthplace is now home to a chain of a popular William Hill
betting shop.
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. He was also a prominent member of the Château Clique
Château Clique
The Clique du Château or Château Clique was a group of wealthy families in Lower Canada in the early 19th century. They were the Lower Canadian equivalent of the Family Compact in Upper Canada...
.
Biography
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, he had emigrated to Canada by 1766, and entered the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
south of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, at first as a clerk or agent for the Quebec merchant, William Grant
William Grant (seigneur)
William Grant was a Scottish-born businessman, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Blairfindy, Scotland in 1744, the son of William Grant, the local laird. In 1759, he was hired by a relative, Robert Grant, who was supplying the Royal Navy at Quebec and sent there as an...
of St. Roch. By the next year, the firm of "James McGill & Co." was trading at Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac is a name for the region around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Early settlers of North America applied the term to the entire region along Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Today it is mostly within the boundaries of Michigan, in the United States...
. In 1773, McGill joined with Isaac Todd
Isaac Todd
Isaac Todd was a merchant of Montreal was involved in the re-establishment of the fur trade after the Conquest of Canada....
in a trading venture beyond Grand Portage, which was renewed under the name Todd & McGill in 1776 . This partnership was important in the formation of what would become the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
. Todd & McGill prospered, as one of the main firms supplied by the London commission merchant, John Strettell
John Strettell
John Strettell of London, England, was one of the most important merchants providing trade goods to the Canadian fur trade in the period between the Conquest of Canada and his death in 1786....
. The partnership did not participate in the North West Company after 1783, but it continued in the so-called "Southwest trade" in the Mississippi valley until Michilimackinac was handed over to the Americans in 1796. It was also involved in other enterprises, but few business papers have survived, making a detailed account difficult.
In November of 1775, McGill was a member of the representation for the citizens of Montreal at the drafting of the articles of capitulation for the city to the invading American army
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
.
McGill was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Montreal West in 1792 and appointed to the Executive Council in 1793. He was elected again in 1800 and in Montreal East in 1804.
He was the first honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards is the second most senior and oldest infantry regiment in the Reserve Force of the Canadian Forces. Located in Montreal, its primary role is the provision of combat-ready troops in support of Canadian regular infantry...
, which name is marked upon the replicated cairn that stands before the Arts building of McGill University.
As a fur trader, slave owner and land owner, he further diversified his activities into land speculation. By 1810 had abandoned the fur trade altogether. Rumoured to be the richest man in Montreal, he left a great deal of money to charity, including an estate and £10,000 to the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning to found McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
James McGill was buried, alongside his fur-trading associate, John Porteous, in the old Protestant "Dufferin Square Cemetery". When the cemetery was eradicated in 1875, his remains were reinterred in front of the Arts Building on the university campus.
Plaques are displayed on Stockwell Street, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
commemorating his birthplace and his foundation of the university, and in the undercroft of Bute Hall at Glasgow University, recognizing the historic link between Glasgow and McGill
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
universities. The birthplace is now home to a chain of a popular William Hill
William Hill (bookmaker)
William Hill plc is one of the largest bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters is in the north London suburb of Wood Green and in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
betting shop.