John Henry Robinson Molson (June 5, 1826 – May 28, 1897) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the owner of

Molson Brewery The Molson Brewery is a Canada-based brewery based in Montreal and was established in 1786 by the Molson family. In 2005, Molson merged with the Adolph Coors Company to become Molson Coors. Molson Coors maintains some of its Canadian operati ...

and president of

Molson Bank The Molsons Bank was a Canadian bank founded in Montreal, Quebec, by brothers William (1793–1875) and John Molson, Jr. (1787–1860), the sons of brewery magnate John Molson. Operations In 1837, the bank opened and issued its first banknotes. ...

. Born June 5, 1826, to

Thomas Molson Thomas Molson (September 1, 1791 – February 22, 1863) was a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Molson Distillery and member of the Molson family. Born September 1, 1791, son of John Molson (1763–1836) and Sarah Insley V ...

(1791–1863) and Martha Molson (1795–1848) at

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

Upper Canada The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...

, "Jackey", as he was affectionately known, was educated in Montreal public schools. Inheriting the Molson Brewery in 1847 under the terms of his grandfather's will, he became associated with its management. In 1852, he entered into partnership with his father to conduct their separately owned brewing and distilling enterprises. Operations were continued after 1863 by John H.R. Molson and other brothers. On the retirement of John Thomas Molson in 1866, distilling was abandoned but the brewery continued under John H.R. Molson and Adam Skaife. In 1879, Molson was made a director of Molson Bank and was forthwith elected vice-president, and later president, 1889-97. Other interests included the Montreal Street Railway, the City and District Bank and the Scottish Life Assurance Co. He was a life governor of the

Montreal General Hospital The Montreal General Hospital (MGH) () is a hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada established in the years 1818–1820. The hospital received its charter in 1823. It is currently part of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and is located ...

, a generous benefactor of

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

and a founder of the Verdun Protestant Hospital for the Insane. In 1873, John was wed to Louisa Goddard Frothingham (1827–1910), daughter of hardware entrepreneur, John Frothingham. John & Louisa had no children. John died in 1897, at Montreal from

nephritis Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys and may involve the glomeruli, tubules, or interstitial tissue surrounding the glomeruli and tubules. It is one of several different types of nephropathy. Types * Glomerulonephritis is inflammation ...

. In 1897, there were no

crematoriums Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

in Canada. John's body was sent to Boston for cremation. His ashes were later placed in the

Molson family The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was founded by John Molson, who immigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England. They are considered to be one of Canada's most prominent business families with a combined net w ...

vault at Mount Royal Cemetery. In his will, John left $10,000 to Mount Royal Cemetery with his instructions: "For the erection and workings of a crematory furnace for the cremation of the dead."The Molsons: Their Lives & Times 1780-2000, Karen Molson

References

External links

Memorial at ''Find A Grave''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Molson, John Henry 1826 births 1897 deaths Businesspeople from Ontario People from Kingston, Ontario John Henry Robinson Molson 19th-century American businesspeople