McGill, Peter, 1789-1860

Peter McGill was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, the son of John McCutcheon and Mary McGill. His uncle, John McGill, who was Receiver General of Upper Canada from 1813 to 1822, bequeathed his large estate to Peter on condition that he assume the name McGill, which he did. He came to Canada in 1809 to become a partner of the Montréal firm of Parker, Gerrard, Ogilvie and Co. Later, he founded his own mercantile firm, Peter McGill and Co. In 1819 McGill became a director of the Bank of Montreal. He served as its president from 1834 to 1860. He was the first chairman of the first railway company established in Canada, the St. Lawrence and Champlain, from 1834 until 1838. McGill was mayor of Montréal from 1840 to 1842. He held a seat in the Legislative Council of Lower Canada, 1832-1838. He was member of the Special Council of Lower Canada (1838-1841) and of the Legislative Council of the United Provinces, 1841 to 1860 where he served as Speaker from 1847 to 1848.