Date Published:
December 2007

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

John Wilson McConnell

An official in many prominent Canadian Corporations

Montreal, Canada.

JOHN WILSON McCONNELL, Investment Broker, Montreal; was born in Muskoka, Ont., July 1st, 1877, the son of John McConnell and Margaret Anne Wilson, and was educated in the public schools of Muskoka. At the age of seventeen years he took the position of entry clerk with Geo. Goulding & Sons, Toronto. He accepted the position of sales agent with the Standard Chemical Co., in 1900, covering the Dominion from coast to coast, and in 1902 was made eastern manager, with office in Montreal. He later became vice-president and assistant general manager. On January 1st, 1906, he retired from the Standard Chemical Company to form the firm of Johnston, McConnell & Allison. He quickly came into prominence in connection with several large deals which attracted much attention owing to the successful manner in which they were handled. The partnership of Johnston, McConnell & Allison terminated on January 1st, 1912, since which time Mr. McConnell has been identified with and is President of The Montreal Securities Corporation, Limited. Mr. McConnell is an official and director of the following companies: vice-president Montreal Tramways Co.; president Canadian Tube & Iron Co., Limited; vice-president Imperial Trust Company; vice-president St. Lawrence Sugar Refineries, Ltd.; director Sherwin-Williams Co., of Canada, Limited; vice-president Goodwins Limited; vice-president Halifax Tramways Co.; director Canadian Light & Power Co.; vice-president Montreal Island Land Co.; vice-president Canadian Rolling Mills Co., Limited. In religion Mr. McConnell is a Methodist; and takes a keen interest in the affairs of that body. He is treasurer and a member of the Board of Management of Douglas Methodist Church, and a governor of Wesleyan Theological College. He is also a warm friend of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is chairman of the committee of management of that institution. He is a governor of the Montreal General, Western General and Alexandra Hospitals. He married, May 11th, 1905, Lilly May Griffith, daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Griffith, Ph. D., and has two sons. Clubs: Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club; The Montreal Club; Royal Montreal Golf Club and The York Club, Toronto. Recreation: Riding, Motoring and Golf.

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. 25.