Gilbert Scott

Gilbert Scott was for many years a resident of Montreal and a witness of its development and progress. He came to rank prominently among the representatives of commercial and financial interests and for an extended period was a member of the Dow Brewery Company of this city. He was born at Chagford, Devonshire, England, April 16, 1820. In early life he was a clerk in a bank in London and came to Montreal in 1845. In the ’60s he entered into partnership with William Dow, a well known Montreal brewer and continued in active connection with the business until his life’s labors were ended on the 9th of June, 1891, when he was seventy-one years of age. The other members of the firm at various times were John Harris, A. C. Hooper, J. Philip Scott, son of Gilbert Scott, Angus Hooper and Major George Hooper. Capable management led to the continuous growth and success of the business until the year 1912, when the Dow Brewery became a part of the National Breweries Company.

Gilbert Scott was connected officially with many large financial and commercial institutions and was well posted upon financial and commercial matters, but his fund of knowledge went further and made him familiar with many other questions and interests of the day. He was a director of the Bank of Montreal; senior partner of the Dow Brewery Company; president of the Intercolonial Mining Company; vice president of the Shedden Company; a director of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company, and of the Canada Sugar Refining Company.

Mr. Scott was married to Miss Janet Cooper of London, England, who died in 1875. He was survived by one son, James Philip, who was a member of the Dow Brewery Company from 1876 until his death, in 1898, and four daughters.

Mr. Scott was a member of St. Paul’s Lodge of Masons and was always loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He had vivid recollections of the important points in the history of Montreal, from the time when he located here in 1845, until his death. As a man, he possessed many attractive social qualities and was beloved by a large circle of friends.