Gordon Morton McGregor
Encyclopedia
Gordon McGregor was a Canadian
business man.
McGregor founded Ford Motor Company of Canada
, Limited.
McGregor's father was William McGregor
, President of the Walkerville Wagon Company Limited in Walkerville, Ontario
-- now Windsor, Ontario. He took over the management of the company in 1901 and, on the death of his father in 1903, Gordon McGregor became president of the company.
At a meeting with his brothers, Walter and Donald, in January 1904, Gordon McGregor said:
"There are men in Detroit who say every farmer will soon be using an automobile. I don't see why we can not build them here in the wagon factory." [1]
resulted in McGregor obtaining a personal agreement which allowed him to form and finance a company to manufacture and sell Ford products in Canada.
Additionally, he obtained the right to sell Ford products in the then existing British Empire, exclusive of the British Isles. This farsightedness on the part of McGregor has resulted in Ford of Canada having wholly owned subsidiaries in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
The 1904 Ford Model C was the first call built at the plant.
In addition to building the business, he actively developed people. A young man, Wallace R. Campbell, whom he hired as bookkeeper, showed promise and was developed to become McGregor's assistant. When Mr. McGregor died, Campbell took over and ran Ford of Canada.
Gordon McGregor Public Elementary School in Windsor, Ontario
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...
business man.
McGregor founded Ford Motor Company of Canada
Ford Motor Company of Canada
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited was founded in 1904 for the purpose of manufacturing and selling Ford automobiles in Canada and the British Empire. The Ford Motor Company in Detroit transferred the patent and selling rights to the Walkerville Wagon Company, in order to avoid the tariff rates...
, Limited.
McGregor's father was William McGregor
William McGregor (politician)
William McGregor was a Canadian businessman and political figure. He represented Essex in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1874 to 1878 and from 1891 to 1900....
, President of the Walkerville Wagon Company Limited in Walkerville, Ontario
Walkerville, Ontario
The former town of Walkerville Ontario, Canada is now a heritage precinct of Windsor Ontario. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whisky. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent...
-- now Windsor, Ontario. He took over the management of the company in 1901 and, on the death of his father in 1903, Gordon McGregor became president of the company.
At a meeting with his brothers, Walter and Donald, in January 1904, Gordon McGregor said:
"There are men in Detroit who say every farmer will soon be using an automobile. I don't see why we can not build them here in the wagon factory." [1]
Personal life
On November 2, 1898 he married Harriett Dobbs. They had five children – two sons, Gordon and William, and three daughters, Harriett, Elizabeth and Nancy.McGregor meets Henry Ford
His meetings with Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
resulted in McGregor obtaining a personal agreement which allowed him to form and finance a company to manufacture and sell Ford products in Canada.
Additionally, he obtained the right to sell Ford products in the then existing British Empire, exclusive of the British Isles. This farsightedness on the part of McGregor has resulted in Ford of Canada having wholly owned subsidiaries in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Ford Canada
Production of Ford automobiles in Canada started in the Wagon Works on October 10, 1904.The 1904 Ford Model C was the first call built at the plant.
In addition to building the business, he actively developed people. A young man, Wallace R. Campbell, whom he hired as bookkeeper, showed promise and was developed to become McGregor's assistant. When Mr. McGregor died, Campbell took over and ran Ford of Canada.
Death
Gordon McGregor died when he was only 49 years old as a result of injuries sustained in a railway accident.Legacy
He saw the company he founded expand from producing 117 cars in its first fiscal year, to 51,341 in 1922. This resulted in almost seven out of 10 cars sold in Canada being built by Ford of Canada. He saw his company become the first automobile manufacturer in Canada to build the complete automobile from raw material to the finished product.Gordon McGregor Public Elementary School in Windsor, Ontario