Date Published:
December 2007

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Henry Vincent Meredith

President of the Bank of Montreal

Montreal, Canada.

HENRY VINCENT MEREDITH was born February 28th, 1850, at London, Ontario, a son of the late J. W. C. Meredith, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. Educated at Hellmuth College and after graduation began financial career with Bank of Montreal, where he has spent his entire business life. The family of Meredith is one of the oldest, and most prominent of the great number who came from Ireland to Canada. Three of that family originally landed at Quebec, two of whom remained in what was then Lower Canada, the third selecting Upper Canada. The late Chief Justice Sir William Meredith and Mr. Edmund A. Meredith (who was principal of McGill University in 1846) were the two first mentioned, the third being Mr. J. W. C. Meredith (father of H. V. M.) who had eight sons, all of whom have added to the eminence of the name. H. V. Meredith entered the service of the Bank of Montreal in its infancy, and was one of the pioneers who materially assisted in its wonderful growth. His first position was in 1867, in their branch at Hamilton, Ontario, becoming accountant in 1879. He was next advanced to assistant inspector, and held that office for ten years, his duties covering the territory from Halifax to the end (at that time) of the Canadian Pacific Railway; he also had jurisdiction extending from New York City to Chicago. He became manager at Montreal in 1889, and until recently held the title of assistant general manager. In 1910, Mr. Meredith was elected a director; December 2nd, 1911, general manager of the Bank of Montreal; in 1912, vice-president ; and upon the retirement of Mr. R. B. Angus in 1913 Mr. Meredith was elected president.

He is a director in the following corporations: Bank of Montreal; Royal Trust Company of Montreal; the Standard Life Ins. Co. of Edinburgh, Scotland; the Royal Exchange Assurance Co. of London, England; a trustee for the Mackay Companies; a governor of the Royal Victoria Hospital; vice-president Montreal Art Ass'n. Interested in numerous charities and civic bodies, and a member of the following clubs: Mount Royal, Montreal Jockey, Royal Montreal Golf, Forest and Stream, Montreal Hunt, Mount Royal Tennis, Winter Club, and York Club of Toronto. Formerly an officer in Montreal Garrison Artillery. Resides in Montreal. Mr. Meredith married, in 1888, Isobel Brenda Allan, a daughter of Mr. Andrew Allan, of the Allan Line of Steamships. Mrs. Meredith is a director in the Society Prevention Cruelty to Animals, Women's National Immigration Society, and interested in numerous charitable and benevolent works.

Source: Canadian History Makers. A Volume Containing Accurate and Concise Sketches of Men who have Done Things in The Dominion of Canada Past and Present Together with Photogravures Made from their Latest Photographs, Montreal, Canadian Publication Society, 1913, 159p., p. 21.