Joseph Masson

Joseph Masson (Saint-Eustace, Canada, January 5th 1791 - Terrebonne, May 15th 1847), Canadian business man, became the first millionaire Canadian-French, and was also in particular lord of Terrebonne and to advise legislative of Quebec.

Biography

Joseph Masson , born in Saint-Eustace in Quebec in 1791, is the son of Antoine Masson, carpenter who could not sign, and of Suzanne Pfeiffer (or Payfer). After studies up to 16 years, it is in Apprentissage as from 1807 as clerk in a Saint-Beno4it cheese merchant (Mirabel), and learns the commercial life and its various aspects.

Import-export

Joseph Masson is committed in May 1812 by the Scottish merchant Hugh Robertson who finds it very “ débrouillard ”. The house knows difficulties, and even a bankruptcy in 1814. But Masson proves reliable, and obtains in 1815 the position of Associé with 1/8e with the incomes. It is in charge of the annual purchases in Scotland, then of the effective responsibility for the Canadian house. Its contract of association with Robertson is re-examined in 1818 then in 1819, with died of William Robertson, to reach 50  % of the Profit S.

In 1818, Joseph Masson marries Marie Genevieve Sophie Raymond, girl of the merchant Jean-Baptiste Raymond, lord of the Lake-Matapédia, appointed Huntingdon.

Masson devotes all its energy to the development of its companies, and acknowledges to want “  to beat   ” and “  to make fall   ” all its competitors. Its company of import-export develops and diversifies; in 1830, the company is composed of three maisons : the W. and H. Robertson and Company , with Glasgow, directed by Hugh Robertson  ; the Robertson, Masson, LaRocque and Company , in Montreal, directed by Masson  ; the Masson, LaRocque, Strang and Company , with Quebec, directed by John Strang. Masson and Robertson hold more 80  % of the capital of these companies. Masson is then the Canadian business man more implied in the exchanges with the British market.

Transport and energy

To transport its goods, it buys a boat nine of 290 barrels, which it baptizes of the first name of his wife, Sophie   ; it buys then, entirely or in participation, two other sailing ships, and a vapor. Always in the field of transport, he asks for the room of Parliament the construction of a channel, the creation of a company of navigation, and the construction of a Railroad. He takes part in 1832 in the foundation of the railroad of Champlain and of the the St. Lawrence.

Masson is also interested in the urban companies of supply of water and lighting by gas, in Montreal, Quebec and Toronto. With the invitation of its associates, it takes a first participation in Montreal, and its participation reaches in 1842 more of the third of the company of Gas of Montreal. It founds with John Strang in 1841 and the lighting Water-company with gas of Quebec, and off founds with Furniss City Toronto Gas Light and Water Company, of which it is President.

The bank

The Banque of Montreal then played the part of central bank of Canada. It buys shares in 1824, and enters of them in 1826 to the Board of directors. In 1830, Masson largely increases its participation, and achieved its goal which is in fact to increase its credit in the area. Joseph Masson is named in 1834 vice-president of the bank of Montreal. He has also business with the Bank from the city, in Montreal, Gore Bank and Commercial Bank of Midland District.

He is one of the rare contractors of the time to benefit largely from the organizations of credit to develop his business. He manages to double his volume of businesses while resorting systematically to the credit, and he has evil to convince his Scottish associate to do as much of it.

The Masson companies

Masson is the leading manpower of the three companies of the group; this situation is reflected from now on in the shareholding and company names of the companies, which deviennent : Joseph Masson, Sounds and Company (Montreal)   ; Masson, Langevin, Sounds and Company (Quebec)   ; Masson, Sounds and Company (Glasgow).

Lord of Terrebonne

To sit his success with dignity, Joseph Masson acquires in 1832 the seigniory of Terrebonne. It is primarily a question of prestige, but it is not long in making a very profitable company of it, after having developed the trade and industry; the seigniory indeed counts on its territory one of the most important industrial centers of the area, that of the Island of the Moulins of Terrebonne: Masson makes build a forging mill, attics, a new mill, and innovates while making use the Turbine (or " coil with réaction"), imported new technology of the United States. Thus, in addition to aristocratic base that it gets, its seigniory ensures him of comfortable additional incomes.

Masson is named with the Legislative council of Quebec in 1834, and is elected alderman of Montreal in 1843. He is also captain of militia, Justice of the Peace, member of Committee off Trade of Montreal. He is the first marguillier of the Notre-Dame parish of Montreal, and takes part in the construction of the new basilica.

Generally loyal supporter by interest for his business, it does not forget of it less his patriotic fiber when it hides at his place Louis-Joseph Papineau, whose head was put at price in 1837, or when it agrees to be a president of the association Saint-Jean-Baptist.

He died in 1847 with Terrebonne.

After her death, his wife, Marie Genevieve Sophie Raymond, encourage her elder in the continuation of the marketing activities of their father, and deal itself with the seigniory: it creates the office seigneurial in 1850, makes build the Masson manor of 1848 to 1854, develops the mills, and founds the college Masson de Terrebonne.

They had twelve children, among whom:

See too

External bonds

  • Site of the National Assembly of Quebec with a note on Joseph Masson
  • Dictionary biographical of Canada with a detailed biography of Joseph Masson
  • Files Joseph Masson
  • the Masson manor, become college, with the portraits colors of Masson
  • mills of Terrebonne, their development by Joseph Masson, the office seigneurial
  • Site of Laurentides: the family Masson

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