James Morgan

James Morgan, an influential citizen of Montreal, is perhaps best known as president of Henry Morgan & Company, Limited. His activities, however, have extended to other lines, all of which have proved beneficial to Montreal in its material, civic or moral upbuilding. In the utilization of opportunities that others have passed heedlessly by, he has achieved distinction and honorable success, and yet the acquirement of wealth has been but one phase of his existence, never excluding his active participation in and support of other vital interests which go to make up community and national life. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, a son of the late James Morgan, a native of Saline, Fifeshire, who was associated with his brother, Henry Morgan, in the conduct of the business now carried on by Henry Morgan & Company, Limited.

In early life James Morgan became a resident of Montreal and attended the Montreal high school. He then became connected with the business founded by his uncle and father, and gradually worked his way upward in that connection. Mr. Morgan, moreover, is president of the Colonial Real Estate Company and has been prominently connected with various other business enterprises of far-reaching importance. He aided in promoting the British Columbia Bank Note Company in 1904 and in organizing and developing the Montreal Cement Company in 1905. He was likewise vice president of the Accident & Guarantee Company of Canada, and in all these associations his judgment is sound, while his ability to coordinate and unify seemingly diverse elements has been one of the strong features in his growing success. While he has reached the millionaire class, his business methods have ever been such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, in that there is no esoteric phase in his entire career and what he has accomplished, both for himself and the community at large, represents the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which are his.

Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lyman, a daughter of Frederick Lyman, of Connecticut. They are influential members of the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian) of Montreal, in which Mr. Morgan is serving as trustee. His interests and activities extend to many beneficent projects and to those which spread culture and stimulate intellectual activities. He is a director of the Montreal Horticultural and Fruit Growing Association and one of the principal promoters of the Montreal Citizens Association, of which he is now a director and treasurer. He was likewise one of the promoters of the Montreal Board of Control, but declined election thereto. He is one of the governors of the Montreal General Hospital and is interested in various projects seeking to meet public needs along broad humanitarian lines. He is a councillor of the National Historical Society, belongs to the St. Andrews Society, to the Montreal Art Association and to the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society. He is also a member of the Canada and the Reform Clubs. His life has been one of intense and well directed activity, fruitful of good results for the general public as well as for himself.