Henry Hogan

Very few if any men in Montreal were any better known in their respective lines of business than was Henry Hogan, in connection with the hotel business. He occupied a position among his contemporaries that made him a unique personage. The story of his life is best told by the history of the hostelry, St. Lawrence Hall, that his name had made famous and over which he had charge for upwards of a half century. Mr. Hogan was born at La Tortue, near Laprairie, on the 12th of April, 1820, and was a son of Nicholas Hogan, who served in the British army in the Peninsular war and at Waterloo under the Duke of Wellington. He was engaged in the woolen manufacturing business in Manchester, England, and upon coming to Canada established a mill at La Tortue. He met his death from drowning, the result of the giving way of the rail on a boat, which precipitated him into the St. Lawrence river. He was survived by a widow and several children.

Henry Hogan was but a boy when he came to Montreal and his early training in a business way began in the line of business of which he made such a great success in later life, the hotel business. In 1851 he became proprietor of what was then called the Hogan Hotel, in which enterprise he was in partnership with Messrs. Borden and Compaine, but both men retired early, being succeeded in the firm by Frederick Penn, who remained a partner with Mr. Hogan until 1869. After that time the latter was alone as sole proprietor of St. Lawrence Hall. In 1856 he was one of the prominent factors in the grand banquet given by the citizens in the Hall to mark the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway, on which occasion many distinguished citizens were his guests. In 1860 he entertained the members of the suite of the Prince of Wales, later His Majesty, King Edward VII. In those days Mr. Hogan entertained many people of title and prominence. The story of this hotel has its own connection with the history of Canada, for under the roof of St. Lawrence Hall there occurred many things that led to the present-day development of the Dominion. Here Mr. John A. Macdonald, later the great Sir John, met his sturdy opponent, Mr. George Brown, and exchanged views on the best means of uniting the scattered provinces. From this beginning confederation was achieved and Mr. Hogan performed his share in these events and at all times faithfully carried out the duties of citizenship. St. Lawrence Hall was for many years the best known hotel in Canada and one of the best known on the continent. Princes of the royal blood, soldiers and statesmen, political refugees, artists and poets, stars of the operatic and dramatic stage partook of its hospitality and their names recall events of bygone days. The opening of Victoria bridge brought many notables to the Hall, and during the progress of the Civil war in the United States the clank of the sword was heard at St. Lawrence Hall, which became the headquarters for the Confederate representatives and southern refugees. Jefferson Davis and John Wilkes Booth were guests of the Hall, and during the Trent affair it was the headquarters of the officers. During the trial of John Surratt, the register of the Hall was taken to Washington and has never been returned. After the Civil war, General Sherman, of the Union army, and also one of the most prominent Confederate generals visited Montreal and were entertained by Mr. Hogan, as was Henry Ward Beecher and other distinguished Americans. The banquets held at St. Lawrence Hall were noted affairs, the place being the scene of many brilliant social gatherings.

The ancestral records of the Hogan family included the names of many prominent in military circles and Henry Hogan also took a deep interest in these affairs, being for years commanding officer of the Montreal Field Battery, of which he was lieutenant in 1855, afterwards became colonel and assumed command, retiring with that rank in 1866. Mr. Hogan had been connected with numerous business enterprises aside from his hotel interests. He always had implicit confidence in the future of Montreal and made investments that proved highly profitable. His business ability won him success and prominence in his chosen field and his capability, tact and resourcefulness made him an ideal host, whether entertaining a little private gathering of friends or a large concourse of notable and eminent citizens at a banquet. In religious belief he was a Unitarian. His death occurred October 9, 1902, and he was survived by a widow, two sons, Henry H. and Lawrence H., and also two daughters: Anna W., now the widow of Major Low, of the British army; and Marion E., who died unmarried.