Joseph Masson

Joseph Masson (January 5, 1791 – May 15, 1847) was a Canadian businessman, who is considered the first French Canadian millionaire.

Seigneur of Terrebonne, Quebec, president of Masson societies, president of the City Gas, he was also vice-president of the Banque de Montréal, president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal, and member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada.

He was a major Canadian businessman in the 1830 years, and he is a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Biography Masson, born in Saint-Eustache, Quebec in 1791, was the only son (there were also three daughters) born to Antoine Masson, joiner who did not know how to write, and Suzanne née Pfeiffer or Payfer.

After studies at Saint-Eustache school, he went at 16 to Saint-Benoît, Mirabel to learn the commercial business, as an apprentice of the merchant Duncan McGillis.

Import-export

Masson was hired in May 1812 by the Scottish merchant Hugh Robertson, who found him very clever. The company had some difficulties, and a bankruptcy in 1814. But Masson proved his worth, and became partner in 1815 with 12.5% of the shares. He became responsible for sales in Scotland, and then the chief of the Canadian company. His partnership contract with the Robertsons was revised in 1818 and in 1819, when William Robertson died, and his share of the profits rose to 50%. and directed by John Strang. Masson and Robertson held more than 80% of their capital. Masson was while the Canadian businessman most involved in trade with the UK market. Masson bought shares of Bank of Montreal in 1824, and joined its board of directors in 1826. In 1830, Masson increased his shareholding, and reached his goal to increase his influence in the region. In 1834, Masson was appointed vice chairman of Bank of Montreal. He was also linked with the Bank of the City, Montreal, the Gore Bank and the Commercial Bank of Midland District.

He was the major Canadian businessman in the 1830 years.

He was also member of the Montreal City Council from December 1842. He was invited to become the Mayor of Montreal in December 1842, but declined. He was militia captain from 1823, member of the Board of Trade of Montreal, first churchwarden of Notre-Dame parish and judge of the peace. But he was a patriot when he hid Louis-Joseph Papineau, who had a bounty on his head in 1837, and in 1845 when he agreed to be elected the third president of the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Death; Family

Masson died in 1847 at Terrebonne. He is considered to be the first French-Canadian millionaire.

After his death, his wife, Marie-Geneviève-Sophie Masso n (daughter of Jean-Baptiste Raymond) and her eldest sons continued Masson's companies and the managing of the seigneurie.

She created the seigneurial bureau in 1850, constructed the Masson manor from 1848 to 1854, developed the industry and the mills, and founded the Collège Masson à Terrebonne.

They had twelve children. Amongst them: Isidore-Édouard-Candide Masson (1826–1875), businessman and political figure, founder of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, Quebec. Louis-Rodrigue Masson, PC (1833–1903), Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, Minister of Militia and Defence, President of the Privy Council.

Honours Masson was elected one of the members of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. A commemorative plaque, placed in 1975 by The Commission des monuments historiques on the former Masson Manor, states that Masson served as an example to all Canadian people. His name was given to: Masson (electoral district), a provincial electoral district in Quebec. An avenue, a street, a promenade, a park in Montréal, Quebec. The name of his widow was given to the new Pont Sophie-Masson across the Riviere des Mille Iles.