Beatty, Edward Wentworth, Sir, 1878-1943

Sir Edward Beatty was born in Thorold, Ontario; his father Henry Beatty, was the founder of Beatty Lines, a Great Lakes steamship company. After completing his education at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall, Beatty joined the legal department of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1901. He was promoted to general solicitor in 1910, vice president in 1914 and in 1918, he succeeded Lord Shaughnessy as president. As president of C.P.R. he steered the company through boom and depression, expanding its operations into steamships and hotels. Beatty was involved with philanthropic and educational work and was particularly active in hospitals and boys' associations. He served as Chancellor of Queen's University from 1918 to 1921, and of McGill from 1921 until his death. Knighted in 1935, he was appointed representative of Britain's Ministry of War Transport in Canada at the outbreak of World War II.