John Molson
John Molson was a prominent brewer and entrepreneur born on December 28, 1763, in Moulton, Lincolnshire, England. Orphaned at a young age, he immigrated to Montreal, Canada, at eighteen, where he initially worked in a brewery before purchasing it in 1785. Molson's brewery quickly became successful and is recognized as the oldest active brewery in North America, now part of MillerCoors. Beyond brewing, he played a significant role in developing Canadian industry, notably funding the construction of North America's first fully built steamboat in 1809 and contributing to the establishment of multiple steamships.
In addition to his business ventures, Molson was active in politics, serving in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and later in the Legislative Council. He was also involved in the financial sector, serving as president of the Bank of Montreal. His philanthropic efforts included supporting the construction of Montreal's first luxury hotel, theater, and public hospital, as well as funding the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad. John Molson passed away on January 11, 1836, and his legacy continues through the Molson Coors Brewing Company, one of the world's largest brewing firms, headquartered in Montreal.
Subject Terms
John Molson
Entrepreneur
- Born: December 28, 1763
- Birthplace: Moulton, Lincolnshire, England
- Died: January 11, 1836
- Place of death: Montreal, Quebec
Contribution: John Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur most known for the brewery he opened in Montreal, which bears his name as the Molson Coors Brewing Company. He played a major role in the development of steam- and rail-based transportation in Quebec and was active in politics and finance.
Early Life and Education
John Molson was born in England on December 28, 1763, in the village of Moulton in Lincolnshire, England. He was orphaned at the age of eight and raised by his maternal grandparents. In the summer of 1782, at eighteen, he immigrated to Montreal, Canada.
Career
Not long after Molson arrived in Montreal, he began working for Thomas Loid in his brewery, which Molson later purchased in 1785. He subsequently returned to England to claim his inheritance and, with the money he received from his parents’ estate, he purchased equipment for his new brewery in Montreal. The Molson brewery achieved great success in Canada, going on to become the oldest active brewery in North America. The company is still running today as part of MillerCoors.
As his brewery flourished, Molson was able to use his business profits to invest in the development of Canada’s industry. In 1809, he partially funded the construction of the first steamboat built entirely in North America, the Accommodation. The Molson family continued to develop steam travel in Canada, funding and operating an additional twenty-one steamboats.
In 1816, Molson entered into a partnership with his sons, John, Thomas, and William. Molson’s brewery became known as John Molson and Sons, and with his sons taking on many of the daily responsibilities of running the brewery, Molson was able to enter into other ventures, including politics and finance. Molson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1816. He held this position intermittently until 1820. From 1826 to 1830, he served as president of the recently founded Bank of Montreal. Molson returned to politics in 1832 when he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Lower Canada.
Molson also provided funding for the city’s first luxury hotel, the Mansion House; first permanent theater, Theatre Royal; and first public hospital, Montreal General Hospital, where he served as vice president. Molson also helped to fund the first railway in Canada, the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad, which began running in 1836, shortly after his death.
Personal Life
Molson married Sarah Insley Vaughan in 1801 and the couple had three sons. Molson died on January 11, 1836. The Molson Coors Brewing Company is one of the largest brewing companies in the world and still keeps its headquarters in Montreal.
Bibliography
Holloway, Andy. “The Molson Way.” Canadian Business 9 Apr. 2007: 36–40. Print.
Hunter, Douglas. Molson: The Birth of a Business Empire. Toronto: Viking, 2001. Print.
Ross, J. Andrew, and Andrew D. Smith, eds. Canada’s Entrepreneurs: From The Fur Trade to the 1929 Stock Market Crash: Portraits from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Toronto: U of Toronto Press, 2011. Print.
Wallace, W. Stewart, ed. The Encyclopedia of Canada. Vol. 4. Toronto: U Assoc. of Canada, 1948: 316. Print.