Dawson, Samuel Edward, 1833-1916

Samuel Edward Dawson was born on June 1, 1833, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

He was a businessman, publisher, author, and civil servant. He was educated at McCulloch's School, Halifax, and came with his father to Montreal in 1847. He became a partner, and subsequently, head, of his father's bookstore called Benjamin Dawson and Son, Publishers and Booksellers, Montreal. After his father retired in 1860, Dawson went into a partnership with his brother and the firm was renamed Dawson Bros. He was a founder of the Dominion Note Company in 1879 and of the Montreal News Company. In 1891, he was appointed Queen's Printer which was equivalent to a deputy minister. He retired in 1908. He was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1906. In 1893, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and served as its president from 1907 to 1908. He received honorary degrees of Litt.D. from Laval University (1890) and LL.D. from McGill University (1911).

In 1858, he married Annie Maria Bent (1839–1924). He died on February 9, 1916, in Westmount, Montreal, Quebec.