business and in 1886, after leaving the academy in Vermont,
entered upon a position with La Banque Jacques Cartier, with
which institution he remained until 1899, becoming well
acquainted with all the details as regards investments and
credits and the multitudinous duties and responsibilities
connected with the management and direction of a large financial
establishment. Since 1899 Mr. Leduc has been manager of the
Banque d’Hochelaga, his extraordinary ability finding recognition
in this important position. The bank has a capital and reserve of
about eight million dollars and is one of the strongest financial
institutions in the Dominion.
On the 14th of January, 1894, Mr. Leduc married Miss Corinne
Bisson, a daughter of E. H. Bisson, a prominent man along various
lines and well known as a member of the provincial parliament.
Mr. and Mrs. Leduc have three children: Louis Philippe, aged
seventeen; Gabrielle, aged twelve; and Jeanne Aimée, aged ten.
The family affiliates with the Catholic church.
Mr. Leduc takes a deep interest in the metropolitan development
of Montreal and is ever ready to extend or place at the disposal
of the general public his time or means in order to promote
worthy public enterprises. Although he has not cared to actively
participate in public life, he has done much to promote the
growth of the city in his private capacity. Personally he is
approachable, kindly and dignified--a gentleman of pleasing
manners and fine appearance, combining with grace of manner
an American demeanor of democracy which readily makes for him
friends who are devoted to him on account of the substantial
qualities of his character.
FREDERICK ERNEST THOMPSON, M. D.
Dr. Frederick Ernest Thompson, who since 1890 has been in
continuous practice of his profession in Montreal, his signal
ability commanding for him a distinguished place in medical
circles and a wide and representative patronage, was born in the
city of Quebec, Quebec province, and acquired his early education
in the grammar and high schools there. He followed this by a
course in Morrin College and after completing this entered McGill
University from which he was graduated M. D. in 1890. He still
remains a close and earnest student of his profession, keeping in
touch with its most advanced and modern thought.
Dr. Thompson began practice in Montreal in the fall of 1890,
and his ability attained instant recognition. Since that time
constant study and research and steadily widening experience
have broadened and developed his powers, and he is today one of
the most successful and prominent physicians and surgeons in the
city where he makes his home. In the latter line of work he has
become especially proficient as his position in the department
of obstetrics and operative surgery on the staff of the
Women’s Hospital plainly shows. He is a member of the Montreal
Medico-Chirurgical and the Canadian Medical and British Medical
Associations, and a fellow in the Edinburgh Obstetrical Society,
and his ability is widely recognized in professional circles.
PROFESSOR CHARLES EBENEZER MOYSE.
Professor Charles Ebenezer Moyse, a member of the faculty of
McGill University since 1878 and since 1903 dean of the faculty
of arts and vice principal of McGill, needs no introduction
to the readers of this volume, for his fame and ability as
an educationist and writer, both of verse and of prose, have
made his name a familiar one from coast to coast. He was born
at Torquay, England, March 9, 1852, a son of the late Charles
Westaway and Mary Anne (Jenkins) Moyse, the former of Torquay
and the latter a daughter of John Jenkins, of Exeter. He was
educated first of all at the Independent College, Taunton, and
subsequently at University College, London. He obtained the
Bachelor of Arts degree of the University of London in 1874. He
was university exhibitioner in English and also headed the honor
list in animal physiology. His career as an educationist has been
a successful one from the outset. He was appointed headmaster of
St. Mary’s College, Peckham, and while filling that position was
elected in 1878 to the Molson professorship of English literature
at McGill University, Montreal. In 1903 McGill conferred upon him
the honorary degree of LL. D. In the same year he was appointed
dean of the faculty of arts and vice principal. His position
in the university at once indicates his high standing in the
profession. He was editor in chief of the McGill University
Magazine, now the University Magazine, for five years, and has
for many years been president of the McGill College Cricket Club,
a fact which indicates that his interest is not merely along
literary lines.
Professor Moyse has ever been a close and discriminating student
and has found his greatest pleasure as well as his chief activity
in roaming through the fields of the world’s literature and
finding companionship with the men of master minds. The result of
his labors has, in part, been given to the world in a number of
published volumes and articles. In 1879 he brought out a volume
entitled “The Dramatic Art of Shakespeare,” and in 1883 “Poetry
as a Fine Art.” In 1889, under the pseudonym “Belgrave Titmarsh,”
he published a volume entitled “Shakespeare’s Skull,” and he
published in 1910, a volume entitled “Ella Lee; Glimpses of Child
Life,” consisting of poems reminiscent of his childhood days in
Devonshire. In 1911 appeared “The Lure of Earth,” a volume of
poems of a more serious character. He has also written various
poems and literary articles which have appeared in the leading
magazines of the day.
In June, 1883, Professor Moyse wedded Janet McDougall, the eldest
daughter of John Stirling of Montreal. Mrs. Moyse has been deeply
interested in a movement for providing playgrounds for children
in Montreal, her efforts in that direction being untiring, and
she is now a director of the Parks and Playgrounds Association.
Professor Moyse has been a close student of all the interesting
problems and significant questions of the day and absorption in
books has never made him neglectful of the duties and obligations
of citizenship. His social nature finds expression in his
membership in the Thistle Curling Club and University Club. He
has been characterized as “a highly cultured man who has had a
brilliant career as an educationist.”
GEORGE HAGUE.
Respected by all who know him, no man occupies a more creditable
position in banking circles than does George Hague of Montreal,
who for many years was prominently identified with the management
of important financial affairs. He has been equally well known
by reason of his active support of benevolent and philanthropic
objects and by his interest in phases of public-spirited
citizenship. He was born at Rotherham, Yorkshire, England,
January 13, 1825, a son of Mr. John Hague, and comes from an old
family of bankers, as some or other of his relatives have for
generations back been connected with the leading bank in the
town. Mr. Hague has passed the eighty-ninth milestone on life’s
journey and his career has been one of usefulness and honor.
His early education was acquired at Morgate Academy, in his
native town, where his proficiency in mental arithmetic placed
him at the head of the school when yet a mere boy. His school
days over, he entered into active connection with financial
interests as an employe of the Sheffield Banking Company. He
remained in Great Britain until 1854, when he came to Canada,
having accepted the position of financial manager of a firm of
railway contractors. Two years later he became accountant at
the head office in the newly organized Bank of Toronto. The
steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He
advanced from one position to another which brought upon him
larger responsibilities and duties, each, however, finding
him adequate to the demands made upon him. He was appointed
manager of the Bank of Toronto at Cobourg, Ontario, and in 1863
succeeded the late Mr. Angus Cameron as cashier of the bank,
in which capacity he remained until 1876. It was during this
period that Mr. Hague’s influence was felt in some of the most
important legislation affecting banking interests in Canada. The
government had brought in two measures in succession, for the
regulation of the currency. To the first, some of the western
bankers were inclined to agree, but Mr. Hague conceived its
operation would be prejudicial to the interests of a bank like
the Bank of Toronto, and the finance minister was prevailed on to
make it optional instead of compulsory. Only one bank consented
to embrace its provisions, and, for some years, matters went
along undisturbed. The second measure was far more dangerous,
and was wholly compulsory. It was founded on the American
currency plan, which was then at the zenith of its popularity,
and had not yet developed any of the unfavorable features which
afterwards transpired. This Canadian government measure, many
bankers, particularly from Ontario and Nova Scotia, concluded
would be utterly unsuitable to the circumstances of Canada,
and they determined to give it strenuous opposition. Mr. Hague
was appointed secretary of an informal association for the
purpose, and the contest was maintained through two or three
sessions of parliament. There were powerful influences at the
back of the government in favor of the measure and the contest
was a very determined one. At length when Sir Francis Hincks
had been appointed finance minister, a satisfactory compromise
was proposed, accepted, and its provisions incorporated in the
Dominion note act, and the Canadian bank act, which both shortly
followed.
[Illustration: GEORGE HAGUE]
Previous to this every bank was worked under a separate charter,
but now these various charters were amalgamated under one
compendious act, the preparation of which occupied the leading
bankers and lawyers in the house of commons for several months.
In these discussions Mr. Hague naturally took a leading part,
along with Mr. E. H. King of the Bank of Montreal. Hon. Mr.
Lewin, of the Bank of New Brunswick, Hon. Edward Blake of
Toronto, Mr. Peter Jack who represented the banks of Nova Scotia
and, of course, the finance minister. This act, together with the
Dominion note act, has been at the foundation of Canadian banking
ever since. During the progress of these discussions Mr. Hague
was offered the general managership of the Bank of Commerce, as
well as one of the higher positions in the Bank of Montreal. Both
however were declined.
After the exacting labors entailed by this contest, Mr. Hague
concluded that the time had arrived when he might fairly carry
out a project that he had cherished for many years, viz., to
devote the remainder of his life to religious and philanthropic
work. In preparation for this he resigned his position in the
Bank of Toronto and made other arrangements for a change in
his mode of life. Upon severing his connection with the Bank
of Toronto, the directors of that institution presented Mr.
Hague with a service of plate and a handsome sum of money, in
consideration of his efficient services to the bank as well as
for his most valuable services to the banking interests of Canada
generally.
Subsequent events proved that Mr. Hague’s preparations for
retirement from the banking business were premature.
A cloud had been gathering over the commercial and financial
position of Canada for some time back, and it was never darker
or deeper than in the opening months of 1877. The records of
failures and insolvencies grew to alarming proportions, fully
four times the usual average, and the losses of the banks told
on them severely. The general manager of the Merchants Bank of
Canada having resigned, the directors of that institution offered
the position to Mr. Hague and pressed upon him to accept it.
It was like taking command of a ship in the midst of a storm,
but he felt it his duty to undertake the task, but did so with
a full understanding that he should be at liberty to devote a
reasonable amount of time to religious and philanthropic work. It
was several years before the financial cloud passed by, and of
the strenuous labors of bankers at that time it is needless to
speak. Suffice to say that Mr. Hague held on to his post with
careful attention to the matters he had stipulated for, and only
retired after twenty-five years more of service, at a ripe old
age, and having in the meantime assisted in the decennial reviews
of the banking act that transpired from time to time according to
its provisions. At the time of his resignation as general manager
in 1902, the directors of the Merchants Bank presented Mr. Hague
with a valuable piece of solid silver, gold plated, and made a
handsome provision for the remainder of his life.
Whilst general manager of this bank, Mr. Hague was several
times requested by the American Bankers’ Association to address
its annual meeting, and took an active part in preventing the
adoption of silver as the basis of the finances of the United
States. He also drew up a paper in which a strenuous protest was
made against the adoption of silver as part of the basis of the
currency of the Bank of England. This had been urged by a school
of financiers known as bi-metallists, but Canada has always stood
solidly on a gold basis, and so has England remained.
When the Bankers’ Association of Canada was founded, Mr. Hague
took an active part in company with Mr. Wolferstan Thomas, Mr.
Duncan Coulson, and other bankers in drawing up its constitution,
and was chosen its first president. Since his retirement from
banking circles he has been honorary president, an office to
which he was reelected at the last annual meeting of that
association.
In the intervening years, since his retirement to the present
time, Mr. Hague has given his attention to literary and
philanthropic work and has become widely known by reason of his
contributions to the press and his cooperation in many organized
charitable and benevolent projects, especially the Young Men’s
Christian Association.
He has written many articles which have appeared in the financial
papers and also reviews on banking and philanthropic subjects.
He also published a valuable treatise, entitled Banking and
Commerce. His published works include, Some Practical Studies in
the History and Biography of the Old Testament.
Another phase of his activity has brought Mr. Hague not only into
close connection with many charitable and benevolent movements,
but also with projects of vital importance to the city and its
material, intellectual and moral development. He is today a
governor of McGill University, vice president of the Montreal
Diocesan College; a governor of the Montreal General Hospital,
and a director of the House of Industry and other kindred
organizations. He is vice president of the Canadian Bible Society
and was at one time president of the Young Men’s Christian
Association, to which he has been a generous contributor.
Some years ago, after an era of extravagant expenditure of the
city council during which the debt of the city was doubled in
five years, an association was formed for maintaining a watchful
oversight over the finances of the city. This was called the Good
Government Association, and many of Montreal’s most prominent
citizens became members of it. Of this association Mr. Hague
was chosen president, and under its auspices an efficient
check was placed upon extravagant spending by the Montreal
Corporation, through an act of the legislature, brought in by
Mr. George Washington Stephens. Mr. Hague often went to Quebec
on the business of this association which has now, however, been
dissolved and superseded.
At a certain period of our parliamentary history, when the late
Sir John Abbott was premier, a great outcry was made as to
abuses in connection with the civil service. A Royal commission
was appointed for examination of which Edmond Barbeau and J.
M. Courtney, deputy finance minister, were members. Of this
commission Mr. Hague was appointed chairman. The examination was
very thorough and extended over several months. Every department
of the service was overhauled and at its close a series of
recommendations were made, all of which tended to correct abuses
and promote efficiency, and, which if adopted, would have
resulted in a large annual saving to the country. Some of these
were adopted, but others unfortunately were not, and another
commission became necessary later on.
Mr. Hague still has financial interests in several corporations,
being a director of the Guarantee Company of North America, and
others of a similar character.
Mr. Hague has never been an active politician, but his connection
is with the liberal-conservative element, his support being
given to the Chamberlain policy. No movement tending to
promote civic virtue or civic pride has failed to receive his
indorsement and support. His interest in public affairs is that
of a broad-minded, public-spirited citizen, looking beyond the
exigencies of the moment to the possibilities and opportunities
of the future. His religious faith is that of the Anglican
church, in which he has been a most active worker for many years.
Mr. Hague has been married twice. In 1852 he wedded Sarah
Cousins, a daughter of Mr. Joseph Cousins, a manufacturer of
Sheffield, England. Her death occurred in 1900 and in March,
1902, he wedded Mary Frances Mitcheson, a daughter of the late
McGregor Mitcheson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is now past
the eighty-ninth milestone on life’s journey, but in spirit and
interest seems yet in his prime. The Canadian American has truly
styled him, “A high-minded Christian gentleman, public-spirited
and always at the front in every philanthropic movement ...,
never knew a fairer man or one more actively unselfish.” All this
indicates that his life was never self-centered but has reached
out along lines of constantly broadening usefulness and activity
for the benefit of the people, seeking rather the welfare and
benefit of the many than the advancement of self. His life has
indeed been one of signal usefulness.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Insurance interests found a prominent representative in William
Robertson in Montreal, who was largely a pioneer in the work
of adapting English companies to the business methods pursued
on this side of the Atlantic. A Canadian by birth, his native
town was Lachute, province of Quebec, and his natal year 1847.
His father, Dr. William Robertson, a graduate of the Edinburgh
Medical College, settled in Lachute when a young man, there
establishing himself in practice, but later removed to St.
Andrews East, where he continued actively in the profession
until his death, greatly endearing himself to the community by
the willingness to which he responded to the call of the sick,
even though it meant a self-sacrificing ride of from sixty to
seventy-five miles. His patients had the utmost confidence in him
and his professional efforts were a blessing to the inhabitants
of that, then scarcely settled district. He married Miss Mary A.
Tierney, of Ireland, and they had two sons and three daughters,
the surviving son being Dr. Patrick Robertson of England. An
uncle of our subject was Colin Robertson, who won fame in the
northwest.
William Robertson pursued his education in the schools of St.
Andrews East and from his youth up was an underwriter, having
begun business when quite young by entering the insurance office
of Simpson & Bethune of Montreal. Such was the reputation which
he won for superior business qualifications, for executive power
and administrative ability, that in 1873, when but twenty-six
years of age he was elected as representative for Canada of the
London & Lancashire Life Assurance Company. The duties of this
office he filled most acceptably for about seventeen years,
or until his life’s labors were ended in death. He projected
many changes and improvements in the methods of the English
offices, transacting business on this side of the Atlantic. He
made thoroughly Canadian in spirit and activity, the London &
Lancashire Company in the Dominion, bringing about its popularity
and success. He carefully organized and systematized the business
here, with the result that the London & Lancashire Company became
one of the strongest insurance companies of the country.
In 1871 Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Helen I. Barnston, a
daughter of George Barnston, who throughout his active life was
engaged in the Hudson’s Bay service in British Columbia and in
the northwest country. He came to Canada in 1821 and retired,
after many years service with the Hudson’s Bay Company, spending
the remainder of his days in a well earned rest in Montreal. His
wife was Miss Helen Mathews of England. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson
became the parents of two children, who are living: Dr. William
Graeme Robertson of England, who is attached to the White Star
service; and Helen M. C., at home.
Mr. Robertson was active as a faithful member of St. James
Episcopal church, in which he served as warden and he also
belonged to the St. James Club. His keen sagacity enabled him to
recognize the different spirits of the business circles in the
old world and in the new, to adapt himself to changed conditions
and to work along lines of new world progress. Thus he became
a recognized leader in insurance circles occupying a prominent
position until 1889 when he went to Denver, Colorado, for his
health, there passing away on the 26th of February, of that year.
CHARLES P. HEBERT.
Charles P. Hébert, the first president of the wholesale grocery
firm of Hudon, Hébert & Company, Ltd., of Montreal, was born
in the pretty little village of St. Charles on the Richelieu
river, and when a young man made his way to the city which was
ever afterward his home. Here he began business in a small way
and by energy and industry soon built up his establishment. In
1883 he became a member of the firm of Hudon, Hébert & Company.
The business was originally established under the style of E.
& V. Hudon and subsequently was conducted under the name
of V. Hudon and later became J. Hudon & Company. In 1906 it
was incorporated as Hudon, Hébert & Company, Charles P. Hébert
becoming the first president of that corporation. They are
wholesale grocers and wine merchants, the premier establishment
of its kind in the Dominion, importing directly from manufacturers
in Europe, China, Japan, Asia Minor and the United States.
They employ one hundred and seventy people in their Montreal
establishment and have twenty-five salesmen constantly visiting
all Canada, selling their goods from the Atlantic to the Pacific
to the amount of five million dollars annually.
[Illustration: CHARLES P. HEBERT]
Mr. Hébert always took a deep interest in Montreal’s charitable
institutions. He was president of the board of management of the
Notre Dame Hospital and was also connected with other benevolent
organizations and projects. He served as a member of the council
of the Montreal Board of Trade and filled honorable positions in
that body, including those of vice president and member of the
board of arbitration. He was one of the directors of the City and
District Savings Bank and also a director of the Masson estate.
Mr. Hébert died at his home at No. 117 Champ de Mars, Montreal,
July 17, 1906, and was survived by a widow and six children.
After the death of Mr. Hébert Mr. Joseph Hudon was elected
president of the corporation and on his death in 1908 Mr. Albert
Hébert, son of Charles P. Hébert, succeeded to the presidency,
and following his demise in 1911 Mr. Zéphirin Hébert, also a son
of Charles P. Hébert, became president of the company.
REV. ALEXANDER CHARLESON MANSON, PH. D., D. D.