James McGill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James McGill
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| Born | October 6, 1744 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | December 19, 1813 (aged 69) |
| Resting place | In front of the Arts Building |
| Other names | James McGill III |
| Citizenship | Lower Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Known for | Founder of McGill University |
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Trottier Desrivières, née Guillimin |
| Parent(s) | Margaret Gibson, James McGill |
James McGill (born October 6, 1744 – died December 19, 1813) was a very successful Scottish-Canadian businessman. He was known for trading furs, buying and selling land, and giving money to good causes. He is most famous for starting McGill University in Montreal.
McGill was also involved in politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, which was like a parliament, and joined the Executive Council of Lower Canada in 1792. He was also a leader in the local militia, a group of citizen soldiers. Many people thought James McGill was the richest man in Montreal when he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Business
James McGill's family came from Ayrshire in Scotland. They had lived in Glasgow for two generations before he was born. His family worked with metal, and his father was a leader in their craft guild.
James McGill went to the University of Glasgow. Soon after, he moved to North America to find business opportunities. By 1766, he was in Montreal. This was after the British had taken control of New France, which opened up new trade routes.
Starting in the Fur Trade
McGill began working in the fur trade south of the Great Lakes. At first, he worked for another merchant from Quebec City. But by the next year, he had his own company called "James McGill & Co." They traded furs in a place called Michilimackinac.
In 1773, McGill teamed up with Isaac Todd, who became a close friend. Their trading business was called Todd & McGill. This partnership was very important in forming what would become the North West Company, a major fur trading company in Canada. McGill traveled as far west as Grand Portage (in modern-day Minnesota) for his business.
Political and Financial Influence
In 1775, James McGill helped represent the citizens of Montreal when the American army invaded. Later, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1792 and again in 1800 and 1804. He also became an honorary lieutenant-colonel in the Montreal Militia. This unit later became the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
In 1782, McGill made the largest investment in the fur trade in Lower Canada up to that time. This showed how important and wealthy he was in the fur trading world.
Family and Home
In 1776, James McGill married Marie-Charlotte. She was a widow with two sons from her previous marriage. McGill also adopted a young girl named Charlotte, the daughter of a deceased friend.
His stepsons were:
- Lt.-Col. François-Amable Trottier Desrivières: He was very close to McGill and followed him into business. He received a large amount of money and land from McGill when he passed away.
- Lt. Thomas-Hippolyte Trottier Desrivières: McGill helped him join the army. Sadly, he died young while serving in Jamaica.
Burnside Place, His Summer Home
In 1777, McGill bought a home in Montreal for his family. Around 1797, he bought a farm he called Burnside. This was his summer home. It was located near other important families' estates. A small stream, called a "burn," ran through the property, which gave it its name. The land was used for growing fruit, vegetables, and raising cattle.
Burnside was a nice country house, not just a simple farm. It had rooms for servants on the ground floor and spacious rooms upstairs. It was a comfortable place for McGill and his family to spend their summers.
James McGill's Legacy
James McGill's death on December 19, 1813, was quite sudden. He was a very rich man when he died, leaving behind a large fortune. His friends and business partners said he was "the richest man in Montreal."
McGill owned land in both Lower Canada and Upper Canada, and he had investments in Britain. He also helped many people and charities in his will. He remembered his old friends and gave money to the poor in Montreal, as well as to hospitals like the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal and the Grey Nuns. He also gave to charities in his hometown of Glasgow.
Founding McGill University
James McGill's most important gift was leaving £10,000 and his summer home, Burnside, to the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning. This generous gift helped create McGill University. His donation also helped establish other colleges and universities, like the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
James McGill was first buried in an old Protestant cemetery. But in 1875, his remains were moved and reburied in front of the Arts Building on the McGill University campus. There are plaques in Glasgow and Montreal that remember his birthplace and his founding of the university. There's even a school in Glasgow that was named after him.
See also
- List of universities named after people
- Scots-Quebecer
Images for kids
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A portrait of James McGill, the founder of McGill University.
