16 Facts About James McGill

James McGill was a Scottish-born businessman, politician, slaveholder, and philanthropist best known for being the founder of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

James McGill was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal West and appointed to the Executive Council of Lower Canada in 1792.

James McGill was an honorary lieutenant colonel of the 1st Battalion, Montreal Militia, a predecessor unit of The Canadian Grenadier Guards.

James McGill was a prominent member of the Chateau Clique and one of the original founding members of the Beaver Club.

McGill was a highly influential and record breaking trader 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.

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.

James McGill was educated at the University of Glasgow, and soon afterwards left for North America to explore the business opportunities there.

James McGill 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.

James McGill was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal West in 1792 and appointed to the Executive Council in 1792.

James McGill was elected again in 1800 and in Montreal East in 1804.

James McGill was the first honorary lieutenant-colonel of the 1st Battalion, Montreal Militia, a unit which later evolved into the Canadian Grenadier Guards, as commemorated by the replicated cairn that stands before the Arts building of McGill University.

In 1782, James McGill would be responsible with making the largest investment in Lower Canada within the fur trade in history at that time, some 26,000 Pound Sterling.

In 1776, James McGill married Marie-Charlotte, the widow of Joseph-Amable Trottier Desrivieres.

James McGill had previously adopted Charlotte, the youngest daughter of his deceased friend John Porteous, and through his marriage he became the step-father of two sons,.

In 1777, at Montreal, James McGill purchased the former home of the Baron de Becancourt for his new family on Notre-Dame Street, next to the Chateau Ramezay.

James McGill was buried, alongside his fur-trading associate John Porteous, in the old Protestant "Dufferin Square Cemetery".