John Molson

English-born merchant who emigrated to Montreal in 1782 and later expanded into steamships, banking and politics.

John Molson (1763-1836) emigrated from England to Montreal in 1782 and started brewing there in 1786, founding what became Molson Brewery, the oldest brewing business in North America. He later launched the Accommodation, one of the first steamships in Canada, and invested in banking and hotels. His descendants kept control of Molson, and the family still holds voting control of Molson Coors alongside the Coors family.

Molson was born in England on December 28, 1763 and died on January 11, 1836. Beyond brewing he built the first Canadian steamship and the first public Canadian railway, served as president of the Bank of Montreal, and established a hospital, a hotel and a theatre in Montreal.