Masson, Joseph, 1791-1847

Joseph Masson was a Montreal businessman, banker, and politician. Masson was born in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, on 5 January 1791, to Antoine Masson and Suzanne Pfeiffer. After attending school, he started working as a clerk in 1807 for Duncan McGillis, a British merchant working in Saint-Benoît (now Mirabel, Quebec). Masson moved to Montreal and in 1812 was hired by Hugh Robertson, owner of Hugh Robertson and Company of Glasgow. In 1815, after working for Robertson for a few years, Masson negotiated himself a senior partnership and the firm's Montreal-based company became Robertson, Masson and Company. By 1819, Masson had a 50% share of the Montreal firm. He also purchased several vessels to better control and reduce costs associated with shipping. Masson was involed in efforts to build and improve canals and railways, including the Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad, Canada's first public railway. In addition to his success in business, Masson also began to pursue banking, buying shares in the Banque de Montréal in 1824, and joining their board of directors in 1826. He was also involved in politics, serving as a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada between 1834 and 1838, Montreal militia captain in 1823, and justice of the peace in 1836. In 1832, Masson purchased the seigneurie of Terrebonne. Masson married Marie-Geneviève-Sophie Raymond on 6 April 1818 in La Prairie. They had 12 children together. Masson died in Terrebonne on 15 May 1847.