Molson family

The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was founded by John Molson who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England.

John Molson's success saw him and his offspring build Canada's largest brewery (Molson), finance its first steamboat and build the first railroad. His sons established Molson's Bank which printed its own currency and in the city of Montreal that was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, they financed the construction of a Protestant church.

Hartland Molson, a businessman and statesman, expanded the family's brewing operations nationwide, co-purchased the Canadian Arena, which includes the Montreal Forum and the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club 1957-1964 and co-sponsored Hockey Night in Canada with his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson, served as Governor of McGill University, and was a senator for 38 years. ^[1]

Philanthropy

As major contributors to the economy, the Hartland Molson and his brother Thomas Henry Pentland Molson gave back by creating the Molson Foundation in 1958, which awarded annual grants for outstanding achievement in the arts by Canadian citizens (renamed the Molson Family Foundation in 1981). The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts which is awarded by The Canada Council for the Arts annually to distinguished individuals in the arts, in the social sciences and humanities and intended to encourage continuing contribution to the cultural and intellectual heritage of Canada. The Thomas Henry Pentland Prize for general excellence is offered annually at Selwyn House School, which he attended in 1911. The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Family Scholarship is offered annually at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.

William, Thomas and John Molson, Jr. provided McGill University's first endowed chair, the Molson Chair in English Language and Literature. In addition, in 1860 William Molson donated Molson Hall, the west wing of the university's Arts Building. Later generations of the Molson family provided funds to expand the university's medical buildings as well as a gift of land for the Redpath Library.

The Molson Family Foundation, together with several members of the family, contributed the major part of the funds required for the construction of the Molson Fine Arts Building at Bishop's University. The building bears witness to the interest of members of the Molson family in the welfare of Bishop's University over a period of more than sixty years:

Walter Molson, Trustee 1928-1951 John H.Molson, President of Corporation 1947-1966 J. David Molson, Trustee 1965-1968 William M.Molson, Trustee 1968-1976 Eric H. Molson Trustee, 1976-1984

Notable members of the Molson family

• John Molson (1763-1836)
• John Molson Jr. (1787-1860)
• Thomas Molson (1791-1863)
• William Molson (1793-1875)
• John Henry Robinson Molson (1826-1897)
• Harry Markland Molson (1856-1912)
• Herbert Molson (1875-1938)
• Percival Molson (1880-1917)
• William Hobart Molson (1888-1951)
• Thomas Henry Pentland Molson (1901-1978)
• Hartland Molson (1907-2002)

References

1. ^ http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp Hockey Hall of Fame

• Molson family gifts at McGill University website