William Southam

William Southam (August 23 1843 – February 27 1932) was a Canadian newspaper publisher. cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol III, 1925-1939)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1992]

Born in Montreal, Quebec, he began his newspaper career working for the "London Free Press". The first newspaper he bought was the "Hamilton Spectator". He would own the "Ottawa Citizen", "Calgary Herald", "Edmonton Journal", "Windsor Star" and "Montreal Gazette".

Robert Smiley, the founding publisher of "The Hamilton Spectator", sold the newspaper to William Southam in 1877 as the first link in the Southam newspaper chain.cite press release| title =The Hamilton Memory Project;| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator- Souvenir Edition page| date =Saturday June 10, 2006| accessdate = 2007-01-29]

His son was Gordon Hamilton Southam (1886-1916). A graduate of Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto, Southam served as a Major in the Canadian Field Artillery, 8th Brigade, in the first World War. He was killed in the Battle of the Somme, France, October 15, 1916 and is buried in Albert, France. [ [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=242456&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=42jkh6rre3to0ahk1m6nvqihn4 Military Attestation for Major Gordon H. Southam] ] [ [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=552294 Virtual Memorial record for Major Gordon H. Southam] ]

Tribute

The Southam neighbourhood on the Hamilton, Ontario Mountain was named after him. It is bounded by the Niagara Escarpment (north), Fennell Avenue East (south), West 5th Street (west) and Upper James Street (east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include the "Glenwood Cemetery."

William married Lilias Ahearn, the daughter of inventor Thomas Ahearn of Ottawa.

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Caen stone reredos installed in 1932 in Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton, Ontario, as a memorial to the Southam family. Carved by J. Whippel & Company of England.

References

* MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 657 - Grids J11, J12

External links

* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007579 William Southam] at The Canadian Encyclopedia
* [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=242456&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=42jkh6rre3to0ahk1m6nvqihn4 Military Attestation (1915) for Gordon Hamilton Southam]