George Simpson (HBC administrator): Difference between revisions

 

== Later life ==

 

By then, Simpson and his wife had a large house on the [[Lachine Canal]] across from the depot from which the fur brigades started west.<ref>[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/simpson_george_8E.html Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Simpson, Sir George]</ref> He also owned other estates such as a Manor in [[Coteau-du-Lac]] that he later sold to the [[Georges-René Saveuse de Beaujeu|Comte de Beaujeu]] and [[Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé#Family|Adélaïde de Gaspé]], and another estate in [[Dorval]] where he received and entertained Prince [[Edward VII]], of the [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]].<ref>[https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2636085 Vieux Manoirs, Vieilles Maisons, Commission des Monuments Historiques de la Province de Quebec]</ref><ref>[https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/va/1981-v26-n105-va1174852/54485ac.pdf A Royal Visit: The Prince of Wales in Montreal in 1860]</ref> Lord [[Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal|Donald Smith]] of [[Knebworth House]], [[Joint Premiers of the Province of Canada|Co-Premier]] of Canada [[Sir Francis Hincks]], and other leading members of Montreal's society also attended his banquets.<ref>[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/smith_donald_alexander_14E.html Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Smith, Donald Alexander, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TqspAAAAYAAJ&q=simpson+donald+smith+lachine&pg=PA157 The Life of Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.0, Volume 1, page 92-93]</ref><ref>[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/simpson_george_8E.html Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Simpson, Sir George]</ref>

 

In 1854, he was able to travel by rail to [[Chicago]] before he boarded his voyageur canoe at [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]]. In 1855, he was in Washington, D.C., and discussed Oregon affairs, and in 1857, defended the HBC monopoly in London. In May 1860, he went by rail to [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]; decided that his health would not bear the trip to Red River; and returned to Lachine.

In August 1860, he entertained the [[Edward VII|Prince of Wales]] at Lachine, who came for the inauguration of [[Victoria Bridge (Montreal)|Victoria Bridge]], in honor of his mother [[Queen Victoria]]. Simpson built [[:fr:Prince of Wales Terrace|Prince of Wales Terrace]] in his honor. The building, made of a limestone facade in the Classical [[Greek Architecture|Greek style]], consisted of a row of nine luxurious houses, and was inhabited by Sir [[William Christopher Macdonald]] and [[Mcgill University]]'s Principal [[William Peterson (academic)|William Peterson]].<ref>[https://cac.mcgill.ca/campus/buildings/Prince_of_Wales_Terrace.html Prince of Wales Terrace (demolished)]</ref> It was later demolished to make room for [[Samuel Bronfman]]'s pavilion, which was seen by [[Alcan]] CEO [[David Culver]] as an unforgivable act of vandalism.<ref>[https://cac.mcgill.ca/campus/buildings/Prince_of_Wales_Terrace.html Prince of Wales Terrace (demolished)]</ref><ref>[https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com%2Freport-on-business%2Fdavid-culver-was-a-devoted-ceo-who-fought-to-preserve-history%2Farticle34125652%2F#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url David Culver was a devoted CEO who fought to preserve history]</ref>

A street was named in his honor, named Simpson Street, next to Parc Percy-Walters, McGregor Street, and [[:fr:Maison John-Wilson-McConnell|Maison John-Wilson-McConnell]].<ref>[https://imtl.org/rue_montreal.php?rue=Simpson Imtl.org, Rue Simpson, Montreal]</ref> The park was previously occupied by one of his houses, and was part of his 15 acre estate on [[Mount Royal]].<ref>[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/simpson_george_8E.html Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Simpson, Sir George]</ref> It was then occupied by Rosemount House, which was built on the land of Governor Simpson, and was the home of [[Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet]] and later, [[William Watson Ogilvie]]. Galt House was also built on Simpson Street by Canadian Founding Father [[Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt]]. The entrance of Simpson Street is now occupied by [[Sir George Simpson (condominiums)|Sir George Simpson Tower]].