Major General Robert Rennie (December 15, 1862 – December 17, 1949) was a Canadian businessman and army officer.

Life

Robert Rennie was the son of William Rennie, the founder of Rennie Seeds, a successful wholesaler and retailer of both vegetable and floral seeds, and Sarah Glendinning. William retired in 1888, and Robert and two younger brothers John and

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

took over management of the firm. Robert served as the firm's president until he retired in 1925, when Thomas became president. Robert joined a reserve militia unit,

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, based in Toronto. The regiment is part of 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only reserve regiment in Canada to currently have ...

in 1880. He distinguished himself as a marksman, representing Canada on the Bisley Team on three occasions and receiving several medals and prizes for his marksmanship. In 1887 he was promoted to the rank of provisional second lieutenant. By 1914, when

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

began, Rennie was a lieutenant colonel, and commanded the third battalion of the

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

. During the war he was promoted to brigadier general, commanded the 4th Canadian Brigade of the

2nd Canadian Division The 2nd Canadian Division (2 Cdn Div; ) is a formation of the Canadian Army in the province of Quebec, Canada. The present command was created 2013 when Land Force Quebec Area was re-designated. The main unit housed in this division is the Roy ...

, and was promoted to major general after the war on September 16, 1921 Robert ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the

Liberal Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''. and generally sits at the Centrism, ...

, for the Federal riding of North Toronto after he stepped down from the family firm. In 1946 Robert and his younger brother Thomas filed objections when Jaroslav Racek filed a request to change his name to Gilbert Rennie. Racek was a naturalized Canadian of

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descent, who had lived in Canada for twenty-one years. McCutcheon suggested their objections were motivated by bigotry. Robert had been a stamp collector, while at the family firm. Since it was a mail order firm there was much opportunity to save exotic stamps. When the value of his portfolio dropped, following the 1929 stock market crash, Robert gradually liquidated his extensive collection of valuable stamps.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rennie, Robert 1862 births 1949 deaths 19th-century Canadian military personnel Canadian generals of World War I Canadian military personnel from Ontario Canadian philatelists Canadian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Canadian Companions of the Order of the Bath Canadian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Canadian Members of the Royal Victorian Order Businesspeople from Ontario Queen's Own Rifles of Canada officers