Old Montreal in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

William Molson

(1793-1875)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024

1. William Molson Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[Français] William Molson, fils cadet de l’illustre brasseur montréalais John Molson, joue un rôle déterminant dans l’essor de l’empire commercial familial qui, au milieu du XIX^e siècle, comprend une distillerie, une cour à bois, une fonderie, des navires à vapeur et des chemins de fer. En 1853, il fonde la banque Molson avec son frère John et la dirige jusqu’à sa mort, à partir du siège social qui est situé ici. Philanthrope généreux, Molson occupe les fonctions de président de l’Hôpital général de Montréal et il aide à financer la création et la construction de l’Université McGill, dont il devient plus tard membre du conseil des gouverneurs.

[English] William Molson, youngest son of prominent Montréal brewer John Molson, played an influential role in expanding his family’s commercial empire, which came to include a distillery, a lumberyard, a foundry, steamships, and railways by the mid-19th century. In 1853, William and his brother John founded Molsons Bank, where William served as president until his death. Its headquarters were located here. William Molson was also a leading philanthropist, serving as president of the Montreal General Hospital and donating funds towards the establishment and construction of McGill University, where he later became a governor.

Erected by Commission

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des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada/Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 45° 30.163′ N, 73° 33.549′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Old Montreal. It is at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Saint-Pierre, on the left when traveling south on Rue Saint-Jacques. The marker is located along the sidewalk, directly in front of the old Molson Bank building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 288 Rue Saint-Jacques, Montréal QC H2Y 1P5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024

2. William Molson Marker

The marker is located in front of the old Molson Bank building.

other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La première réunion du Rotary Club de Montréal / The first meeting of the Rotary Club of Montreal (within shouting distance of this marker); Début de l'enseignement vétérinaire au Québec / Start of Veterinary Education in Québec (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); First Young Men's Christian Association on the American Continent (about 150 meters away); Édifice Wilson Chambers / Wilson Chambers (about 210 meters away); Bank of Montreal / Banque de Montréal (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Joseph Xavier Perrault (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Commémoration de la Nation Mohawk / Mohawk Nation Commemoration (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montréal.

Also see . . .
1. William Molson (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: William Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder and President of Molson Bank, which was in 1925 absorbed by the Bank of Montreal. He was the son of the founder of the Molson family dynasty in Canadian business.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024

3. Old Molson Bank Building (west/front elevation)

The official historian of the Molson firm writes that as a result of a disagreement with his brother Thomas as to the conduct of their joint distilling enterprise, William withdrew from this Molson family enterprise to establish Molson Bank in association with his brother, John Molson Jr. Founded in 1853 and chartered by the provincial legislature in 1855, it was absorbed by the Bank of Montreal in 1925. William remained its first president until his death and was succeeded by Thomas Molson's son.
William was vice-president of the Montreal and Champlain Railway and a governor of the Montreal General Hospital (1868), being the third Molson to hold that position. Like his brother, he was a generous benefactor of McGill University, where the "William Molson Hall" was named in his honour.

(Submitted on March 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Molson Bank Building (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The Molson Bank building was built between 1864 and 1866, as the headquarters of the Molson Bank, by order of founder William Molson. It was the first building in Montreal to be built in the Second Empire style, designed
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024

4. Old Molson Bank Building (southwest elevation)
by George Browne working with his son John James George Browne. The bank's counters and offices initially occupied the first floor and basement, while office space was created on the upper floors with a separate entrance on St. Peter Street. By 1883, Molson Bank occupied the entire building. It had to enlarge the building in 1900 and 1911, which, at the end of the work, covered the entire surface of the lot. The Saint-Pierre Street entrance was replaced by an entrance on Saint-Jacques Street, where there had previously been a simple passage to a secondary door.
In 1925, the Bank of Montreal absorbed Molson Bank and its 125 branches. It therefore became the owner of the building, which now housed a branch and the company's international services. In 1999, the Bank of Montreal disposed of the building and the following year the interior was renovated again. In 2009, the Molson Bank building was occupied by government and legal offices.

(Submitted on March 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.