Herbert Molson

Who was Herbert Molson?

Herbert "Colonel" Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur & philanthropist. Former owner of Molson Brewery and member of the Molson family.

Born May 29, 1875, son of John Thomas Molson & Jane Baker Butler, at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was educated at McGill University, Herbert also attended the United States Brewing Academy in New York. He entered the family business in 1897 and in 1910 became owner of Molson Brewery. In partnership with Frederick William Molson he formed Molson's Brewery Ltd. in 1911 and began mechanizing and modernizing the existing plant. His work was interrupted by the First World War: Herbert went over-seas as a Captain and rose to the rank of Colonel. He was wounded in 1916 and awarded The Military Cross, and in 1919, The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George for his services with the headquarters staff. He was a director of many important Canadian corporations and a generous benefactor of McGill University and the Montreal General Hospital.

In 1899 Herbert was married to Elizabeth "Bessie" Zoe Pentland, daughter of Charles Pentland.