Date Published:
April 2008

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

Hugh Paton

President of the Shedden Forwarding Company, Ltd.

Montreal, Quebec.

HUGH PATON was born at Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, October 5th, 1852, a son of William and Mary (Shedden) Paton. He obtained a good education at the grammar school of Paisley, Scotland. In 1871 he journeyed to Canada to join his uncle, (the late Mr. John Shedden) a railroad contractor of Toronto, and entering his office remained with his uncle until 1873 at which time Mr. Shedden was killed by a train while he was assisting at the celebration of the opening of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, of which he was president. On the death of Mr. Shedden the business (he had established) of general forwarder, carrier and cartage agent for the Grand Trunk Railway under the title of "The Shedden Forwarding Company, Ltd." was practically assumed by Mr. Paton who occupied the offices of secretary and treasurer, making his headquarters at Montreal, where he has since resided. He continued in these offices until 1879 when he became manager and secretary and later president, which office he holds at the present day. Mr. Paton is the principal shareholder of the corporation and under his guidance this company has grown to be a most powerful business institution. He is also chairman of the allied Company, operating a similar business in the United States, with head office at Detroit, and is a director in the following companies: The Bell Telephone Company of Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada, The Canadian Transfer Company, Limited, the Montreal Trust Company, the Canadian Express Company, London & Lancashire Assurance Co., The Northern Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the Wire & Cable Company and the Sincennes-McNaughton Co. He also holds a large interest in the firm of William Paton, Ltd., of Johnstone, Scotland, which was originated by his father and now conducted by his brothers. Mr. Paton was for four years honorary secretary-treasurer of the Montreal Tandem Club and from 1879 to 1886 he held the same offices in the Montreal Hunt Club and became M.F.H. in 1887. In 1896 Mr. Paton was elected vice-president of the St. Andrews Society of Montreal and he became the president in the following year. He was married in 1884 to Isabella, (daughter of the late Andrew Robertson). Mr. Paton is a member of the Mount Royal Club, the St. James', the Canada, the Montreal, the Royal, Montreal Golf, the Montreal Racquet, the Forest and Stream, the Montreal Hunt, also of the Toronto Club, the Manitoba Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Manhattan Club of New York and of the Junior Arthenaeum Club of London, England.

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. 53.