J.W. McConnell: Financier, Philanthropist, PatriotJ.W. McConnell (1877-1963), born to a poor farming family in Ontario, became one of the wealthiest and most powerful businessmen of his generation - in Canada and internationally. Early in his career McConnell established the Montreal office of the Standard Chemical Company and began selling bonds and shares in both North America and Europe, establishing relationships that would lead to his enormous financial success. He was involved in numerous businesses, from tramways to ladies' fashion to mining, and served on the boards of several corporations. For nearly fifty years he was president of St Laurence Sugar and late in life he became the owner and publisher of the Montreal Star. McConnell was an indefatigable and formidable fundraiser for the YMCA, the war effort of 1914/18, hospitals, and McGill University, where he served as governor for almost three decades. In 1937 he established what would become The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the first major foundation in Canada and still one of the best endowed. J.W. McConnell was a principled and brilliant visionary with a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to the public good, a Rockefellerian figure in both big business and high society who quietly became one of the greatest philanthropists of his time. His life story - told in uncompromising detail by William Fong - is a study of raising, spending, and giving away money on the grandest scale. |
Contents
3 | |
17 | |
Selling Wood Products and Settling Down 18991907 | 39 |
Partner Promoter and Believer 19071914 | 63 |
Bittersweet St Lawrence Sugar and Regulation 191263 | 94 |
Keep the Home Fires Burning Fundraising for the YMCA in Peace and for Canada in the Great War 190919 | 123 |
Developing and Financing Tramways and Electricity 18901925 | 148 |
The Rise and Fall of Holding Companies for Power and Paper 192539 | 181 |
Faith and Works From Charity to Social Welfare and from Fundraising to Philanthropy 192245 | 324 |
Therell Always Be an England The Second World War 193945 | 351 |
The Dilemma of Conservative Politics 191163 | 386 |
Press Barons Publishers and Editors The Montreal Daily Star and Other Newspapers 192553 | 421 |
Grandescunt Aucta Labore Building McGill University for the Future 192063 | 464 |
We Give Thee but Thine Own The Making of the McConnell Foundation 192863 | 507 |
Keep Right on to the End of the Road 194563 | 546 |
Survey of JW McConnells Investments 192151 | 583 |
Almost a Jack of All Trades 191139 | 212 |
Insecurities McConnells Investments 192139 | 241 |
Wider Ever Wider Shall Thy Bounds Be Set Social Life in Montreal 190163 | 257 |
Plates | 261 |
For King and Empire 192739 | 289 |
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Common terms and phrases
American associated Bank became become bonds British building called campaign Canada Canadian capital cent charitable Church close Club collection common Conservative continued Corporation director Dominion Duplessis effort electricity empire England English established federal Foundation French friends Fund George give governor grant held holding Holt Hospital increased industry Institute interest investment J.W. McConnell James John King largely later least Lord manager March married McConnell McConnell’s McGill McGill University meeting million minister Montreal never newspaper November October Ontario opened operating Ottawa particularly political portfolio Power president probably production profits provincial Quebec Railway refiners remained reported Robert Royal securities seems shares social St Lawrence Star Street success sugar tion Toronto Tramways Trust United University Winnipeg