20 Facts About Hartland Molson

An all-around athlete, Molson played first string football, made it to the college's boxing finals twice, and was a member of the track and field team.

Hartland Molson reached the rank of Lieutenant while with the 27th Field Battery between 1928 and 1933.

Hartland Molson married Henry Nicholas Paul Hardinge, 5th Viscount Hardinge, and moved to live in Jersey.

In 1990 Hartland Molson married Peggy deLancey Robinson, the widow of former Senator Theodore Meighen.

Hartland Molson remained married to Peggy until her death on 18 December 2000.

Hartland Molson enlisted in Montreal, Quebec on 21 September 1939 within weeks of the onset of World War II becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Hartland Molson earned his wings on 11 April 1940 and was assigned to No 115 Squadron RCAF in Montreal.

Hartland Molson was one of a handful of No 115 Squadron pilots transferred to No 1 Squadron RCAF in the spring of 1940 to bolster its numbers in preparation for shipment to the United Kingdom.

When No 118 Squadron was transferred to the Pacific coast, Hartland Molson remained in Dartmouth taking command of 126 Squadron flying Hurricanes.

Hartland Molson commanded No 126 Squadron until 6 September 1942.

Hartland Molson took command of No 8 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Moncton in October and oversaw its move to RCAF Station Weyburn Saskatchewan in January 1944.

On 7 June 1945, Hartland Molson was transferred to RCAF Headquarters in Ottawa where he would work at the Directorate of Personnel for the remainder of his time in uniform.

Hartland Molson was discharged from the service in September 1945 following the German surrender.

At home in Montreal, in 1948 Hartland Molson was named Governor of McGill University, a position he held for the next twenty years.

Hartland Molson served as president between 1953 and 1966, then Chairman until 1974 and Chairman emeritus until 1983, retiring completely in 1988.

Outside of the Molson family businesses, Hartland Molson served on the Board of Directors of a number of major Canadian companies including the Bank of Montreal and Sun Life Assurance.

In 1957, in partnership with his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Hartland Molson, Hartland Molson purchased the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team.

Hartland Molson co-initiated the Molson Foundation in 1958, with his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson, which has contributed to a broad spectrum of areas, including the arts, sports, infrastructure projects, the Molson nature reserve, and several faculties.

In 1995, Hartland Molson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2000, the Ordre national du Quebec, the highest civilian honor of his country and his native province.

Hartland Molson was a well-known salmon fisherman on the Bonaventure River; in Gaspesie.