James McGill
| James McGill | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
October 6, 1744 Glasgow, Scotland, Great Britain |
| Died | December 19, 1813 (aged 69) Montreal, Lower Canada |
| Resting place | In front of the Arts Building 45°30′18″N 73°34′38″W / 45.50500°N 73.57722°WCoordinates: 45°30′18″N 73°34′38″W / 45.50500°N 73.57722°W |
| Other names | James McGill III |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Known for | Founder of McGill University |
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Trottier Desrivières, née Guillimin |
| Children | childless ("I have none of my own" he wrote in a 1795 letter) |
| Parent(s) | Margaret Gibson, James McGill |
James McGill (October 6, 1744 – December 19, 1813) was a British businessman and philanthropist best known for being the founder of McGill University, Montreal. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal West in 1792 and was appointed to the Executive Council of Lower Canada in 1793. He was the first honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of The Canadian Grenadier Guards. He was also a prominent member of the Château Clique and one of the original founding members of the Beaver Club. His summer home stood within the Golden Square Mile.
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. The McGills were metalworkers and, from 1715 onward, burgesses of the city and members of the Hammermen's Guild, James' father having served as deacon.
James McGill was educated at the University of Glasgow, and soon afterwards left for North America to explore the business opportunities there. By 1766, he was in Montreal, whose trade opportunities had recently been laid open following the British Conquest of New France. He 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. By the next year, the firm of "James McGill & Co." was trading at Michilimackinac.
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