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Sir Hugh Allan

1810 - 1882

Sir Hugh Allan
©2019 Gazetteer for Scotland

Sir Hugh Allan

Ship-owner, who contributed significantly to the commercial development of Canada. Born in Saltcoats (North Ayrshire), the son of captain and ship-owner Alexander Allan (1780 - 1854). He emigrated for Canada at the age of 16 where he founded the Allan Line of steam-ships (also known as the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company) in 1854. Allan became a prominent Montreal financier. His railway interests came to an end when it came to light that he had funded the election campaign for John MacDonald (1815-91), a fellow Scot and Canadian Prime Minister, who had granted Allan the charter to build the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Allan died in Edinburgh and his name is remembered in the Allan Memorial Institute of Psychiatry in McGill University (Montreal).


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