Molson family
Encyclopedia
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
was founded by John Molson
who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire
, England
.
John Molson's success saw him and his offspring build Canada's largest brewery (Molson
), finance its first steamboat
and build the first railroad. His sons established Molson's Bank which printed its own currency and in the city of Montreal that was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, they financed the construction of a Protestant church.
Hartland Molson
, a businessman and statesman, expanded the family's brewing operations nationwide, co-purchased the Canadian Arena, which includes the Montreal Forum and the Montreal Canadiens
ice hockey
club 1957-1964 and co-sponsored Hockey Night in Canada
with his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson, served as Governor of McGill University
, and was a senator for 38 years.
and his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson gave back by creating the Molson Foundation in 1958, which awarded annual grants for outstanding achievement in the arts by Canadian citizens (renamed the Molson Family Foundation in 1981). The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts which is awarded by The Canada Council for the Arts annually to distinguished individuals in the arts, in the social sciences and humanities and intended to encourage continuing contribution to the cultural and intellectual heritage of Canada. The Thomas Henry Pentland Prize for general excellence is offered annually at Selwyn House School
, which he attended in 1911. The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Family Scholarship is offered annually at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.
William
, Thomas
and John Molson, Jr. provided McGill University's
first endowed chair, the Molson Chair in English Language and Literature. In addition, in 1860 William Molson donated Molson Hall, the west wing of the university's Arts Building. Later generations of the Molson family provided funds to expand the university's medical buildings as well as a gift of land for the Redpath Library.
The Molson Family Foundation, together with several members of the family, contributed the major part of the funds required for the construction of the Molson Fine Arts Building at Bishop's University. The building bears witness to the interest of members of the Molson family in the welfare of Bishop's University over a period of more than sixty years:
Walter Molson, Trustee 1928-1951
John H.Molson, President of Corporation 1947-1966
J. David Molson, Trustee 1965-1968
William M.Molson, Trustee 1968-1976
Eric H. Molson Trustee, 1976-1984
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was founded by John Molson
John Molson
John Molson was an English-speaking Quebecer who was a major brewer and entrepreneur in Canada, starting the Molson Brewing Company.-Birth and early life:...
who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
John Molson's success saw him and his offspring build Canada's largest brewery (Molson
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
), finance its first steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
and build the first railroad. His sons established Molson's Bank which printed its own currency and in the city of Montreal that was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, they financed the construction of a Protestant church.
Hartland Molson
Hartland Molson
Hartland de Montarville Molson, was an Anglo-Quebecer statesman, Canadian Senator and a member of the prominent Molson family of brewers.-Education:...
, a businessman and statesman, expanded the family's brewing operations nationwide, co-purchased the Canadian Arena, which includes the Montreal Forum and the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
club 1957-1964 and co-sponsored Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
with his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson, served as Governor of 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...
, and was a senator for 38 years.
Philanthropy
As major contributors to the economy, the Hartland MolsonHartland Molson
Hartland de Montarville Molson, was an Anglo-Quebecer statesman, Canadian Senator and a member of the prominent Molson family of brewers.-Education:...
and his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson gave back by creating the Molson Foundation in 1958, which awarded annual grants for outstanding achievement in the arts by Canadian citizens (renamed the Molson Family Foundation in 1981). The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts which is awarded by The Canada Council for the Arts annually to distinguished individuals in the arts, in the social sciences and humanities and intended to encourage continuing contribution to the cultural and intellectual heritage of Canada. The Thomas Henry Pentland Prize for general excellence is offered annually at Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School is a private independent boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. Boys can attend from Kindergarten through to Grade 11. The school was founded in 1908 by Englishman Captain Algernon Lucas...
, which he attended in 1911. The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Family Scholarship is offered annually at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.
William
William Molson
William Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder and President of Molson Bank, which was later absorbed by the Bank of Montreal....
, Thomas
Thomas Molson
Thomas Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Molson Distillery and member of the industrious Molson family....
and John Molson, Jr. provided McGill University's
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...
first endowed chair, the Molson Chair in English Language and Literature. In addition, in 1860 William Molson donated Molson Hall, the west wing of the university's Arts Building. Later generations of the Molson family provided funds to expand the university's medical buildings as well as a gift of land for the Redpath Library.
The Molson Family Foundation, together with several members of the family, contributed the major part of the funds required for the construction of the Molson Fine Arts Building at Bishop's University. The building bears witness to the interest of members of the Molson family in the welfare of Bishop's University over a period of more than sixty years:
Walter Molson, Trustee 1928-1951
John H.Molson, President of Corporation 1947-1966
J. David Molson, Trustee 1965-1968
William M.Molson, Trustee 1968-1976
Eric H. Molson Trustee, 1976-1984
Notable members of the Molson family
- John MolsonJohn MolsonJohn Molson was an English-speaking Quebecer who was a major brewer and entrepreneur in Canada, starting the Molson Brewing Company.-Birth and early life:...
(1763-1836) - John Molson Jr.John Molson Jr.John Molson Junior was a Canadian politician and entrepreneur. Former Director of Molson Bank, President of the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad , and President of Montreal General Hospital....
(1787-1860) - Thomas MolsonThomas MolsonThomas Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Molson Distillery and member of the industrious Molson family....
(1791-1863) - William MolsonWilliam MolsonWilliam Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder and President of Molson Bank, which was later absorbed by the Bank of Montreal....
(1793-1875) - John Henry Robinson MolsonJohn Henry Robinson MolsonJohn Henry Robinson Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur & philanthropist. Former owner of Molson Brewery and President of Molson Bank....
(1826-1897) - Harry Markland MolsonHarry Markland MolsonHarry Markland Molson was a Canadian politician and entrepreneur. Former Mayor of Dorval, Quebec; Governor of Montreal General Hospital, and on the board of directors for the Molson Bank...
(1856-1912) - Herbert MolsonHerbert MolsonHerbert "Colonel" Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur & philanthropist. Former owner of Molson Brewery and member of the Molson family....
(1875-1938) - Percival MolsonPercival MolsonPercival Molson, MC was a Canadian star athlete and soldier. After an outstanding sports career with McGill University, Molson joined its administration. Molson died fighting in World War I...
(1880-1917) - William Hobart MolsonWilliam Hobart MolsonWilliam Hobart Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist and member of the industrious Molson family.William was the only son of Dr. William Alexander Molson & Esther Shepherd. After some months in the 20th Reserve Battalion in England, he proceeded to the 42nd Battalion, "Black Watch",...
(1888-1951) - Thomas Henry Pentland Molson (1901-1978)
- Hartland MolsonHartland MolsonHartland de Montarville Molson, was an Anglo-Quebecer statesman, Canadian Senator and a member of the prominent Molson family of brewers.-Education:...
(1907-2002)