Molson, William, 1793-1875

Wiliam Molson was born in Montréal. Because of a disagreement with his brother, Thomas, concerning their joint distilling enterprise, Molson withdrew from the family firm to establish Molson's Bank with his brother John. Founded in 1854 and chartered by the provincial legislature in 1855, the Molson's Bank was absorbed by the Bank of Montréal in 1925. The President of his bank until his death Molson was also a vice-president of the Montreal and Champlain Railroad, a local director of the Grand Trunk Railway and a governor of the Montreal General Hospital. In 1868 he became the president of the hospital. He was a generous benefactor of McGill, where William Molson Hall was named in his honour.