Harry C. Hatch

Who was Harry C. Hatch?

Harold Clifford "Harry" Hatch was a self-made millionaire industrialist from Prince Edward County, Ontario specializing in the business of wine and spirits.

Hatch started out with a small liquor store in Whitby, Ontario and prospered to the point where he was able to purchase the controlling interest of Gooderham & Worts Ltd. in 1923. Four years later, Hatch acquired Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. based in Walkerville, Ontario, and in 1927 merged the two companies under the parent company of Hiram Walker-Gooderharn & Worts Limited. The company was one of a number of Canadian distillers who prospered by shipping their products into the United States during the Prohibition era from 1920 to 1933.

In 1935, Harry Hatch oversaw Hiram Walker's acquisition of a 51% controlling interest in the H. Corby Distillery Limited. The following year he expanded the company's operation with the acquisition of George Ballantine & Son Ltd. of Glasgow, Scotland.

Hiram Walker is best known for marketing top-selling brands such as Canadian Club whisky and Ballantine's Scotch Whisky.