Arthur Deane Nesbitt
Encyclopedia
Arthur Deane Nesbitt OBE
, DFC
, CdeG
(16 November 1910 - 22 February 1978) was a Canadian
businessman and a decorated pilot
and Wing Commander
in World War II
.
, the son of the very successful stock broker
and co-founder of Nesbitt, Thomson and Company
, Arthur James Nesbitt
. Trained as an electrical engineer, after his older brother Aird
decided to take over permanent management of the family-owned Ogilvy department store
in Montreal
, Deane Nesbitt joined the family's securities business. On the death of his father in 1954, he became head of the brokerage and took over the presidency of the Nesbitt Thomson holding company
, Power Corporation of Canada
. Under his guidance, Nesbitt Thomson expanded across Canada, and into the United States
and Europe
. They were the first Canadian firm in three decades to obtain a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
.
A flying enthusiast, Nesbitt obtained his pilot's license and as a member of the Montreal Light Aeroplane Club, and was twice voted the James Lytell Memorial Trophy as the club's top pilot
.
. As a Flying Officer Nesbitt was then posted to No 1 Squadron RCAF, and flew Hurricanes with the unit during the Battle of Britain
before being wounded on 15 September. On 26 August 1940 Nesbitt claimed a 'Do215' destroyed, and Bf 109s on 4 September and 15 September. He also received the Distinguished Flying Cross
.
When recovered he later commanded No.401 Squadron, and returned to Canada in September 1941 to command No.14 Squadron and later No.111 Squadron. He was promoted to Wing Commander in June 1942 and given command of Station Annette Island.Nesbitt was made CO, No.6 SFTS, Dunneville, in December 1943, and in March 1944 returned to the UK to command No.144 Wing. he then joined No.83 Group HQ as Accidents Investigation Officer. Promoted to Group Captain on 1 January 1945, Nesbitt then commanded No.143 Wing, with Hawker Typhoons,from January to August 1945 before returning to Canada in September 1945, retiring in November 1947.
Along with his brother Aird who served the Canadian Army, he was part of the liberation of the Netherlands
and at Eindhoven. For his service, Deane Nesbitt received a number of military honours. In 1946 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
and in 1947 a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
with Swords, and awarded the Croix de Guerre
with Silver Star by the government of France
.
securities firm. Highly successful in business, he also organised the financing for the TransCanada pipeline
in the 1950s, the then largest natural gas
pipeline in the world and one of the most significant energy projects in the history of Canada. His long and successful business career earned him an induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
.
At the age of 68, Deane Nesbitt suffered a ski
ing accident that left him near totally paralyzed on 4 February. He died in Montreal in 1978 and was interred in the Mount Royal Cemetery
.
In his honor, the BMO Nesbitt Burns
division of the Bank of Montreal
established the A. Deane Nesbitt/Charles Burns Award recognizing exceptional performance.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, CdeG
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(16 November 1910 - 22 February 1978) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman and a decorated pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early Life
Deane Nesbitt was born in Westmount, QuebecWestmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
, the son of the very successful stock broker
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
and co-founder of Nesbitt, Thomson and Company
Nesbitt, Thomson and Company
Nesbitt Thomson and Company is a former Canadian stock brokerage firm founded in 1912 by Arthur J. Nesbitt and Peter A. T. Thomson. The company was headquartered on St. James Street in Montreal, Quebec and its success helped make the area the financial centre of Canada.In 1987, Nesbitt Thomson was...
, Arthur James Nesbitt
Arthur James Nesbitt
Arthur James Nesbitt was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was a cofounder of Nesbitt, Thomson and Company stockbrokerage and the Power Corporation of Canada....
. Trained as an electrical engineer, after his older brother Aird
J. Aird Nesbitt
James Aird Nesbitt was a Canadian department store owner. Born in Westmount, Quebec, he was the first of the two sons of the prominent stock broker, Arthur J. Nesbitt...
decided to take over permanent management of the family-owned Ogilvy department store
Ogilvy (Montreal)
La Maison Ogilvy, commonly known as Ogilvy's , is a prominent department store in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where its store at 1307 Saint Catherine Street West is a retail landmark...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Deane Nesbitt joined the family's securities business. On the death of his father in 1954, he became head of the brokerage and took over the presidency of the Nesbitt Thomson holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
, Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada is a Canadian company with assets in North America and Europe in a number of industries. These industries include media, pulp and paper, and financial services....
. Under his guidance, Nesbitt Thomson expanded across Canada, and into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. They were the first Canadian firm in three decades to obtain a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
.
A flying enthusiast, Nesbitt obtained his pilot's license and as a member of the Montreal Light Aeroplane Club, and was twice voted the James Lytell Memorial Trophy as the club's top pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
Wartime Service
He had 200 flying hours to his credit when he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. on 15 September 1939. Nesbitt was trained at Camp Borden as a fighter pilotFighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
. As a Flying Officer Nesbitt was then posted to No 1 Squadron RCAF, and flew Hurricanes with the unit during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
before being wounded on 15 September. On 26 August 1940 Nesbitt claimed a 'Do215' destroyed, and Bf 109s on 4 September and 15 September. He also received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
When recovered he later commanded No.401 Squadron, and returned to Canada in September 1941 to command No.14 Squadron and later No.111 Squadron. He was promoted to Wing Commander in June 1942 and given command of Station Annette Island.Nesbitt was made CO, No.6 SFTS, Dunneville, in December 1943, and in March 1944 returned to the UK to command No.144 Wing. he then joined No.83 Group HQ as Accidents Investigation Officer. Promoted to Group Captain on 1 January 1945, Nesbitt then commanded No.143 Wing, with Hawker Typhoons,from January to August 1945 before returning to Canada in September 1945, retiring in November 1947.
Along with his brother Aird who served the Canadian Army, he was part of the liberation of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and at Eindhoven. For his service, Deane Nesbitt received a number of military honours. In 1946 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and in 1947 a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
with Swords, and awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Silver Star by the government of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Post war career
After being decommissioned at the end of the War, Group Captain Nesbitt rejoined the family's St. James StreetSaint Jacques Street
Saint Jacques Street is a major street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The street has had two official names: St. James Street in English after St. James's, London; and its current appellation, rue Saint-Jacques, in French. Both names are sometimes used in English, though Saint-Jacques is the most...
securities firm. Highly successful in business, he also organised the financing for the TransCanada pipeline
TransCanada pipeline
The TransCanada pipeline is a system of natural gas pipelines, up to 48 inches in diameter, that carries gas through Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. It is maintained by TransCanada PipeLines, LP...
in the 1950s, the then largest natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
pipeline in the world and one of the most significant energy projects in the history of Canada. His long and successful business career earned him an induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
Canadian Business Hall of Fame
The Canadian Business Hall of Fame honours "Canada's most distinguished business leaders", selected by an independent panel representing Canadian business, academic and media institutions....
.
At the age of 68, Deane Nesbitt suffered a ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
ing accident that left him near totally paralyzed on 4 February. He died in Montreal in 1978 and was interred in the Mount Royal Cemetery
Mount Royal Cemetery
Opened in 1852, Mount Royal Cemetery is a 165-acre terraced cemetery on the north slope of Mount Royal in the borough of Outremont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The burial ground shares the mountain with the much larger adjacent Roman Catholic cemetery -- Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges...
.
In his honor, the BMO Nesbitt Burns
BMO Nesbitt Burns
BMO Nesbitt Burns is a Canadian investment firm. Since its formation in 1912, BMO Nesbitt Burns and its predecessor companies have offered aid to investors in meeting their financial goals. In August 1987 the Bank of Montreal took advantage of new banking regulations to acquire Nesbitt Thomson,...
division of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
established the A. Deane Nesbitt/Charles Burns Award recognizing exceptional performance.