William McGillivray

Who was William McGillivray?

Lt.-Colonel The Hon. William McGillivray, of Chateau St. Antoine, Montreal, was a Scottish-born fur trader who succeeded his uncle as the last chief partner of the North West Company. He was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and afterwards the Legislative Council of Lower Canada. In 1795, he was inducted as a member into the Beaver Club and fought during the War of 1812 as Lieutenant Colonel of the Corps of Canadian Voyageurs, famous for capturing Detroit. He owned substantial estates in Scotland, Lower and Upper Canada. His home in Montreal was one of the early estates of the Golden Square Mile.