‹ Histoire de la corporation de la cité de Montréal depuis son origine jusqu'à nos jours; comprenant, en outre les portraits et biographies des membres du Conseil municipal de Montréal et des principaux fonctionnaires actuels, ainsi que de tous les maires qui ont présidé à nos délibérations civiques, des échevins qui ont siégé à l'Hôtel de ville depuis 1883, c'est-à-dire depuis la période d'annexion des municipalités limitrophesChapitre 118 sur 328 · HON. JAMES FERRIER · texte numérisé non relu

HON. JAMES FERRIER

The Honorable James Ferrier ranks among the perse vering scotchmen, who liave accomplished a successful career in Canada and his tenure of office as mayor of Montréal, in 1845, was marked witli a spirit of gênerons dévotion tliat contribnted mncli towards the advancement of the city. Mr. Ferrier was born on the 2 2d day of October 1800, in a little bnrg of Scotland and he received a rudimentary éducation in one of the rural parishes of Fifeshire. He served his apprenticeship in a mercantile house of the city of Perth until he reached his twenty first year, when he emigrated to Canada. iVfter two years hard work in a business establishment of Montréal, he resolutely changed his condition in opening store in the city, on Notre-Dame street. Through his scotch prudence, and shrewdness, he soon accumulated a handsome compétence and thirteen years after the opening of his store, in 1836, he retired froni business with a commendable financial standing. It was during the following ^^ear that the rébellion broke ont in the eastern Townships ; Mr. Ferrier shouldered his musket with the constitutionalists and through his ability and gallantry becanie a lient. -colonel of a militia corps, seven hundred men strong, that he had himself formed and organized. In 1841, he was appointed a Alunicipal Councillor and three years hence, when the offices became élective, was returned an alderman of the East Ward by a large majority. The same year, in 1844, the électoral called him to the mayoralt}^ honors and it was during his terni of office as mayor that the disastrous conflagration, that caused the destruction of half of the city of Québec, took place. Mr. Ferrier happened to be in the old capital during the

JOHN EASTON MILLS, Sème Maire, 1847.

conflagration. He retnrned immediately to Montréal, at tlie time capital city of Canada, and sncceeded in interesting tlie Governor General Lord Metcalfe, to such an extent that His Excellency raised a sum of $40,000 to which he had personally contribnted $2,000, to be distributed as a relief to the sufferers. Mr. Ferrier's political career began sliortly after tlie Québec disaster and a royal mandanius commanded him to a seat in the Législative Council. He was later on appointed Senator of the Dominion.

In the business world, the Honorable James Ferrier was widely known. When the Bank of British North America was founded, he became one of its directors, and during six years occupied the presidential chair of the IMontreal Assurance Co. He projected the Montréal and Lachine railroad and presided over its administration until the road w^as included in the greater System of the Grand Triink Railway Company. For niany years our subject was chairman of this great concern. As he had been a member of the Board of Royal Institution for the advancement of learning, he was appointed a Governor of the McGill Universit3^ He was also a member of the council of the Universit}^ of Victoria Collège, in Cobourg. The Québec Tempérance and Prohibitory League as w^ell as the Bible Society of ^Montréal were proud to register him as président.

The Honorable James Ferrier' s death, at the end of the eightys, caused a deep regret to be felt b}^ ail who had seen him to the front, whenever his untiring energy was needed.

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