James McGill

James McGill (October 6, 1744 – December 19, 1813) was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, fur trader, land speculator, and philanthropist best known for being the founder of McGill University in Montreal. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal West and appointed to the Executive Council of Lower Canada in 1792. He was the honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st Battalion, Montreal Militia, a predecessor unit of The Canadian Grenadier Guards. He was also a prominent member of the Château Clique and one of the original founding members of the Beaver Club. His summer home stood within the Golden Square Mile. McGill was a highly influential and record breaking trader (specifically with furs) within Canada during his life, with it being argued that McGill was "the richest man in Montreal" at the time of his death by his business contemporaries in reflection. Two prime examples of McGill's status as a record-breaking and influential trader are: 1) McGill (along with a group of some four other merchants) sending 12 canoes to a port in modern day Minnesota which "appeared to mark the beginning of large-scale trade" both in the north-west territory (of North America) and "of the North West Company (in Canada)" and 2) McGill being the largest investor of the fur trade within Lower Canada and Montreal in 1782, with some 26,000 Pound Sterling not adjusted for inflation. Biography The McGill family originated in Ayrshire and had been living in Glasgow for two generations by the time James was born at the family home on Stockwell Street. The McGills were metalworkers and, from 1715 onward, burgesses of the city and members of the Hammermen's Guild, James' father having served as deacon. James McGill was educated at the University of Glasgow, and soon afterwards left for North America to explore the business opportunities there. By 1766, he was in Montreal, whose trade opportunities had recently been laid open following the British Conquest of New France. He 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.