Charles Vance Millar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Vance Millar
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Charles Vance Millar
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| Born | June 28, 1854 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | October 31, 1926 (aged 72) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Occupation | Lawyer, financier |
| Known for | Being a notorious practical joker, most notably in his unusual will, which began the Stork Derby. |
Charles Vance Millar (born June 28, 1854 – died October 31, 1926) was a Canadian lawyer and financier. He was known for his clever business deals. He also owned a part of the O'Keefe Brewery in Toronto.
Millar owned many racehorses, including Tartarean, which won the King's Plate race in 1915. But he is most famous for his very unusual will. This will led to a famous contest called the Great Stork Derby.
Contents
Who Was Charles Millar?
Early Life and Education
Charles Millar was born in Aylmer, Ontario. He was the only child of Simon and Sarah Millar, who were farmers. Charles went to the University of Toronto. He was a very smart student, getting high marks in all his subjects.
After university, he decided to study law. He passed his law exams at Osgoode Hall in 1884. Soon after, he opened his own law office in Toronto.
Millar's Business Ventures
Charles Millar was a very successful businessman. In 1897, he bought the BC Express Company. This company delivered mail for the government in the Cariboo region of British Columbia.
Millar was good at seeing future opportunities. He knew that Fort George would become an important city. So, he expanded his company's services there. He even built two large sternwheelers, the BX and the BC Express.
He also tried to buy land in Fort George from the First Nations. The railway company was also interested in this land. In the end, Millar bought 200 acres (0.81 km2) of the land. This area became known as the Millar Addition.
His Love for Horse Racing
Millar owned several racehorses. His horse, Tartarean, won the important King's Plate race in 1915. When he died, he owned seven horses. One of them, Troutlet, won the King's Plate in 1927, after Millar's estate had sold it.
Millar was also an investor in the Kenilworth Park Racetrack. This racetrack was built near Windsor, Ontario, in 1916.
Millar's Death and Character
How He Died
Charles Millar passed away in his law office on October 31, 1926. He had a stroke while talking to a colleague. He was buried in his family's plot in Aylmer. He had never married and had no children.
A Man of Jokes and Pranks
Even though he was a successful lawyer and investor, Millar loved playing jokes. He was known for his pranks, especially ones that tested people's greed. For example, he would sometimes leave money on the sidewalk. Then, he would hide and watch people secretly pick it up.
Millar was a private person. He was not known to give money to charity during his life. The only club he joined was the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The Unusual Will of Charles Millar
A Will Full of Surprises
Millar's last great prank was his will. He wrote that his will was "uncommon and capricious." This meant it was unusual and playful. He said he had no family to leave his money to, so he could do what he wanted.
His will included several strange requests:
- Three men who disliked each other were given a vacation home in Jamaica. They had to live in it together.
- Protestant ministers and Orange Lodges in Toronto received shares of O'Keefe Brewery stock. This was a Catholic business, which was part of the joke.
- Two people who were against horse racing and one who disliked the Ontario Jockey Club received shares of Ontario Jockey Club stock.
Some of these bequests were tricky. For example, the Jamaica home had already been sold. Also, Millar's brewery shares were not simple to divide. In the end, the ministers and lodges received a small amount of money when the brewery was sold.
The Great Stork Derby
The most famous part of Millar's will was its final clause. It said that ten years after his death, the rest of his money would go to the Toronto woman who had the most children during that time. If there was a tie, the money would be shared. This contest became known as the Great Stork Derby.
The Supreme Court of Canada said the will was legal. The contest lasted for ten years. Millar's distant relatives tried to stop it, but they failed. Because of Millar's smart investments, his estate grew a lot. It was worth $568,106 when it was finally given away.
Most of this large prize was shared by four Toronto women. Each of them had nine children. They each received about $110,000. Charles Millar, who had no children of his own, indirectly "fathered" 36 children through this contest!
The Great Stork Derby even inspired a Canadian TV movie called The Stork Derby.
Images for kids
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Charles Vance Millar
See also
In Spanish: Charles Vance Millar para niños
