St. Andrew's Society of Montreal
  • Learn more
    • The Team
    • Youth Committee
    • Partners
    • History >
      • History - The Founding Years >
        • History - Traditional Celebrations
        • HISTORY - CHARITABLE ENDEAVOURS
        • History - The First President
        • HISTORY - THE LEGENDS
      • Genealogical Research
      • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - introduction >
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Map
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Main Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Extension Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Old Montreal
      • The Keith Radley Hutchison Award
      • Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
      • Past Presidents
      • Ball History >
        • History of the St. Andrew's Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball Guests of Honour
        • Recent Guests of Honour for the St Andrew’s Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball – Archives
        • St. Andrew's Ball - Debutants, Flower Girls and Pages
      • Caledonian Society of Montreal
      • Minute Books and Membership
      • The Rest of our collection
      • The Scots in Montreal
    • The Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • History Corner articles
    • The Scottish Banner
    • Photos
    • Chair of Canadian-Scottish Studies
    • Montreal 1642 tartan >
      • History of the Montreal 1642 tartan
    • Mount Royal Cemetery
  • Membership
    • Membership application
    • Membership renewal
  • Events
    • Kilt Skate
    • Burns Supper
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling for Dummies
    • St. Patrick's Day Parade
    • Quebec Thistle Awards
    • Tartan Picnic
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Summer Barbecue
    • Montreal Highland Games
    • Golf Tournament
    • Fish and Chips Supper
    • Taste of Scotland
    • St. Andrew's Ball
    • Christmas Party
  • Outreach
    • Community assistance
    • Educational aid
    • Cultural grants
  • Store
  • Donate
    • Planned giving
  • Volunteer with us!
  • Contact us
    • Links
  • Apprendre
    • L'Équipe
    • Comité des jeunes
    • Partenaires
    • Histoire (en anglais seulement)
    • Le Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • Articles (en anglais seulement)
    • The Scottish Banner (en anglais seulement)
    • Photos
    • Chaire d'études canado-écossaises
    • Le Tartan de Montréal 1642 >
      • Histoire du Tartan de Montreal 1642
    • Cimetière Mont-Royal
  • Adhésion
    • Demande d'adhésion
    • Renouvellement de l'adhésion
  • Événements
    • Patinage en kilt
    • Souper Burns
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling pour les nuls
    • Défilé de la Saint-Patrick
    • Prix Auld Alliance du Québec
    • Pique-nique en tartan
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Barbecue d'été
    • Jeux écossais de Montréal
    • Tournoi de golf
    • Souper poisson-frites
    • Goût de l'Écosse
    • Bal de la Saint-André
    • Fête de Noël
  • Programmes d'aide
    • Assistance communautaire
    • Aide à l'éducation
    • Subventions culturelles
  • Boutique
  • Faire un don
    • Dons planifiés
  • Faire du bénévolat !
  • Nous contacter
    • Liens

The First President - Hon. Peter McGill


Peter McGill (McCutcheon) was born in August, 1789 at Cree Bridge, Wigtownshire, Scotland, son of John McCutcheon and Mary McGill, sister of the Hon. John McGill, Receiver-General of Upper Canada. At the suggestion of his maternal uncle, he came to Canada in 1809 and engaged in business in Montreal, later founding the mercantile firm - Peter McGill & Co. The Hon. John McGill, being childless, made his nephew his heir, bequeathing to him his extensive and valuable estates, on condition that he assumed the surname of McGill.

In 1819, Peter McGill was elected a Director of the recently founded Montreal Bank (later the Bank of Montreal) and by 1834 had been elected President, occupying that position until 1860 when he tendered his resignation. During his lifetime, he performed the duties of many other important offices including Chairman, St. Lawrence & Champlain Railroad Company (the first railway company established in Canada); Director, Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada; Governor of McGill College & Montreal General Hospital and Chairman; Colonial Life Assurance; President, Canadian School Society; President, Montreal Bible Society; and Lieutenant-Colonel of Militia.

He was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada in 1832 and a member of the Executive Council in 1838; after the union of the Provinces, he was made a Legislative Councillor of Canada. In 1847, he was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council and a member of the Executive Council by the Governor General, the Rt. Hon. Lord Elgin, serving until 1848 when he resigned along with his colleagues in the administration.

From 1840 until 1842, he served as the second mayor of Montreal, and its first English-speaking one, during which period many great improvements were effected in the city. In his civic capacity and as a man of business, Peter McGill was eminent for his intelligence and liberal views; "one of the Province's most worthy citizens", a strictly honourable person who instilled the utmost confidence in others - "he was one of those merchants of whom it is emphatically said, their word is their bond."

Dr. G. W. Campbell (one of the Society's first Honorary Physicians) described his friend as "one of nature's noblemen; possessing a massive frame and endowed with physical as well as mental energy, he was such a man as would he chosen a leader in any circumstances." He was an active Presbyterian who was referred to as "a tower of strength" by the congregation of St. Paul's Church where he had been ordained an elder and remained a member until his death on September 28th, 1860. The rain fell in torrents on the day of his burial, but the city's leading citizens were there in very large attendance. Many of the shops on the streets through which the cortege passed were closed out of respect, and the flags of vessels in the harbour were hoisted at half-mast.

—Whether as a statesman and politician, a useful and active member of our municipal government, or as a patriotic liberal-minded and philanthropic citizen, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to name tiny man who, in the community of Montreal, or indeed in any community, so deservedly merited the esteem and regard of his fellowmen as Peter McGill".
 
St. Andrew's Society of Montreal was fortunate to have had such a leader to guide and counsel its members during those first early years. He served as the Society's first President from 1835 to 1842 and then returned as President again from 1844 to 1846. Records show that for many years during and after his term of office he gave much of his time and no small amount of his means to the support of the Society whose members held him in such high regard.
"That man shall flourish like the trees 
Which by the streamlets grow;
The fruitful top is spread on high 
And firm the root below. "

Robert Burns
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The Founding Years
Traditional Celebrations
Charitable Endeavours
The Legends
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Nous sommes heureux de vous présenter Scottish Affairs Canada comme l'un de nos partenaires. L'Écosse et le Canada entretiennent une relation particulière depuis des siècles. Veuillez cliquer sur le logo «Scotland is Now» et découvrez certains des liens qui unissent nos deux pays.


À propos de nous
Fondée en 1835, la Société St. Andrew’s de Montréal est une société de bienfaisance qui se consacre à l'aide de la communauté écossaise de Montréal, à l'éducation et à la préservation des arts et de la culture écossais. 
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Nous contacter
1195, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal QC  H3A 1H9
​514-842-2030

Nous soutenir

Inscrivez-vous à notre liste de diffusion et recevez le «Wee Weekly News»—notre bulletin d'information hebdomadaire!

​© La Sociéte St. Andrew's de Montréal. Tous droits réservés.
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​We are pleased to introduce ​​Scottish Affairs Canada as one of our partners. Scotland and Canada have enjoyed a special relationship for centuries. Please click on the Scotland is Now logo and find out about some of the connections that bind our two countries together.

About us
Founded in 1835, the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal is a charitable society dedicated to the assistance of Montreal’s Scottish community, to education, and to the preservation of Scottish arts and culture. ​​
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Contact us
1195 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal QC  H3A 1H9
514-842-2030

Support us

Join our mailing list and receive the Wee Weekly News—our weekly newsletter!

​© St. Andrew's Society of Montreal. All rights reserved.
  • Learn more
    • The Team
    • Youth Committee
    • Partners
    • History >
      • History - The Founding Years >
        • History - Traditional Celebrations
        • HISTORY - CHARITABLE ENDEAVOURS
        • History - The First President
        • HISTORY - THE LEGENDS
      • Genealogical Research
      • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - introduction >
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Map
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Main Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Extension Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Old Montreal
      • The Keith Radley Hutchison Award
      • Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
      • Past Presidents
      • Ball History >
        • History of the St. Andrew's Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball Guests of Honour
        • Recent Guests of Honour for the St Andrew’s Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball – Archives
        • St. Andrew's Ball - Debutants, Flower Girls and Pages
      • Caledonian Society of Montreal
      • Minute Books and Membership
      • The Rest of our collection
      • The Scots in Montreal
    • The Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • History Corner articles
    • The Scottish Banner
    • Photos
    • Chair of Canadian-Scottish Studies
    • Montreal 1642 tartan >
      • History of the Montreal 1642 tartan
    • Mount Royal Cemetery
  • Membership
    • Membership application
    • Membership renewal
  • Events
    • Kilt Skate
    • Burns Supper
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling for Dummies
    • St. Patrick's Day Parade
    • Quebec Thistle Awards
    • Tartan Picnic
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Summer Barbecue
    • Montreal Highland Games
    • Golf Tournament
    • Fish and Chips Supper
    • Taste of Scotland
    • St. Andrew's Ball
    • Christmas Party
  • Outreach
    • Community assistance
    • Educational aid
    • Cultural grants
  • Store
  • Donate
    • Planned giving
  • Volunteer with us!
  • Contact us
    • Links
  • Apprendre
    • L'Équipe
    • Comité des jeunes
    • Partenaires
    • Histoire (en anglais seulement)
    • Le Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • Articles (en anglais seulement)
    • The Scottish Banner (en anglais seulement)
    • Photos
    • Chaire d'études canado-écossaises
    • Le Tartan de Montréal 1642 >
      • Histoire du Tartan de Montreal 1642
    • Cimetière Mont-Royal
  • Adhésion
    • Demande d'adhésion
    • Renouvellement de l'adhésion
  • Événements
    • Patinage en kilt
    • Souper Burns
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling pour les nuls
    • Défilé de la Saint-Patrick
    • Prix Auld Alliance du Québec
    • Pique-nique en tartan
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Barbecue d'été
    • Jeux écossais de Montréal
    • Tournoi de golf
    • Souper poisson-frites
    • Goût de l'Écosse
    • Bal de la Saint-André
    • Fête de Noël
  • Programmes d'aide
    • Assistance communautaire
    • Aide à l'éducation
    • Subventions culturelles
  • Boutique
  • Faire un don
    • Dons planifiés
  • Faire du bénévolat !
  • Nous contacter
    • Liens