Farquhar Robertson

The nature and variety of his interests and activities at once place Farquhar Robertson among those citizens whose lives constitute a most useful and serviceable force in bringing about modern day conditions, progress and prosperity. While he is well known as a business man, he has at the same time been a close student of the sociological, economic and political questions of the day, and has been actively allied with many movements seeking the betterment of conditions for the benefit of the individual physically, intellectually and morally. He has also been connected with many projects that promote the municipal welfare, and thus his life has come to be one of great usefulness in his adopted city. A native of Ontario, he was born April 14, 1850, at North Branch, Glengarry, a son of Hugh and Flora (McLennan) Robertson and a brother of Lieutenant Colonel D. M. Robertson, Toronto, Ontario. His education was acquired in his native county and since entering upon his business career, he has largely given his attention to the coal trade. In business affairs he carries forward to successful completion what he undertakes, and his well formulated plans are productive of far-reaching and beneficial results.

His activities along other lines have been equally broad and beneficial. He is identified with many movements which seek to meet and improve modern conditions, and to this end he is serving as a director of the Parks and Playgrounds Association, and is vice president of the Montreal City Improvement League. He was one of the promoters of the Montreal Typhoid Emergency Hospital, and is one of the managing committee of the Montreal General Hospital, a member of the committee of management of Royal Edward Institute, and vice president of Victorian Order of Nurses. Mr. Robertson is president of the firm of Farquhar Robertson, Limited, and director of Merchants Bank of Canada, Montreal Transportation Company, Canada Cement Company and the Prudential Trust Company. He was president of the Montreal Board of Trade in 1909, and it was largely due to his efforts during his term of office, that a change in civic administration took place, to a board of commissioners.

Mr. Robertson represented St. Andrew’s ward in the Montreal city council for six years and was the council’s representative on the Protestant board of school commissioners for the same period.

Mr. Robertson married Miss Flora Craig, daughter of the late James Craig, M. P. P., Glengarry. They reside at No. 30 Ontario Avenue, Montreal. They are Presbyterians in religion.

While not an office seeker in politics (in which he is a conservative), in the usually accepted sense of the term, he is deeply interested in all that pertains to the public welfare, and the present government thought fit to appoint him as one of the present harbor commission.

Mr. Robertson is president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal. He is well known in club circles, being a member of St. James, Montreal, Montreal Hunt and Outremont Golf Clubs, and life member of The Caledonian Society and Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. His recreation is devoted to curling and farming.