Date Published:
June 2005

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

Timothy Eaton

Eaton, Timothy (1834-1907), merchant, was born in 1834 near Ballymena, county Antrim, Ireland, the posthumous son of John Eaton, a farmer. He came to Canada about 1854, and eventually went into partnership with two of his elder brothers, Robert and James Eaton, who had established a general shop at St. Mary's, Ontario. In 1868 he removed to Toronto and here went first into the dry-goods business, until in 1869 he established the firm of T. Eaton and Company. By selling at a fixed price and for cash, he revolutionized commercial methods at that time, and built up one of the largest departmental stores on the North American continent. He died in Toronto on January 31, 1907. In 1862 he married Margaret Beattie of Woodstock, Ontario ; and by her he had three sons and three daughters. See G. G. Nasmith, Timothy Eaton (Toronto, 1923).

Source  : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada , 1948, 411p., pp. 258-259.