13 Facts About Samuel McLaughlin

Samuel McLaughlin started the McLaughlin Motor Car Company in 1907, one of the first major automobile manufacturers in Canada, which evolved into General Motors of Canada.

Samuel McLaughlin sold his Chevrolet company stock in 1918 and became president of General Motors of Canada, which continued to sell cars under the McLaughlin-Buick brand until 1942.

Samuel McLaughlin retired in 1945, but remained chairman of the board until his death in 1972.

Samuel McLaughlin continued to serve on the board of General Motors until the early 1960s, and was coincidentally replaced by Royal Bank of Canada president Earle McLaughlin, his first cousin once removed.

Samuel McLaughlin was appointed as honorary lieutenant-colonel of the 34th Ontario Regiment in 1921.

Samuel McLaughlin held this position until 1931, at which time he was appointed as honorary colonel of the same unit, later designated as The Ontario Regiment, a reserve armoured regiment based in Oshawa.

Affectionately known as "Colonel Sam", Samuel McLaughlin served as honorary colonel until 1967, thereby becoming the longest continuously-serving colonel in the history of the Canadian Forces.

In 1967, Samuel McLaughlin was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Samuel McLaughlin was a major contributor to Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario.

Samuel McLaughlin donated $1 million to the 1968 library building at the University of Guelph, which bears his name.

Samuel McLaughlin provided partial funding to build a college at York University in Toronto.

Samuel McLaughlin endowed the Regimental Foundation of The Ontario Regiment and quietly paid the salaries of some of the regiment's soldiers during times of severely curtailed government funding.

Samuel McLaughlin's horses won numerous races in Canada and in the US; his horses won important races including the 1942 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.