Henry Birks
Encyclopedia
Henry Birks was a Canadian
businessman and founder of Henry Birks and Sons, a chain of high-end Canadian jewellery stores.
In 1857, Birks was hired as a clerk at Savage and Lyman in Montreal
, reputed to be the finest jeweller and watchmaker in the Province of Canada
at that time. Although Birks eventually became a partner in the firm in 1868, the company's later financial difficulties encouraged Birks to leave in 1877.
With an investment of CAD$
3000, Birks opened his own small jewellery shop in 1879 on St. James Street in the heart of Montreal's financial and commercial district. In 1893, Birks went into partnership with his three sons (William, John and Gerald
), and the name of the firm became Henry Birks and Sons. As the focus of Montreal's commercial centre moved northward towards Saint Catherine Street
, the Birks store moved to new premises on Phillips Square in 1894, where the company still maintains a store and corporate offices. Commencing in 1901, Birks oversaw the expansion of the company across the country, with stores opening in Canada's largest cities.
Henry Birks served as a prototype to many Canadian entrepreneurs of the 19th century. The son of English
immigrants, his education was focused primarily on commerce, and he subsequently put it into practice by working in a large and successful firm. As soon as the circumstances would permit, he started his own company, which prospered and ultimately became a Canada-wide commercial empire.
Five successive generations of the Birks family have been involved in Henry Birks and Sons since its founding in 1879. One of Birks' sons, Gerald Birks
, proposed an educational system for Canadian soldiers known as the Khaki University
, which was ultimately implemented for all soldiers in 1917.
The William and Henry Birks Building at Montreal's McGill University
, a Collegiate Gothic structure on University Street, is named in honour of Birks and one of his sons.
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 founder of Henry Birks and Sons, a chain of high-end Canadian jewellery stores.
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...
, reputed to be the finest jeweller and watchmaker in the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
at that time. Although Birks eventually became a partner in the firm in 1868, the company's later financial difficulties encouraged Birks to leave in 1877.
With an investment of CAD$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3000, Birks opened his own small jewellery shop in 1879 on St. James Street in the heart of Montreal's financial and commercial district. In 1893, Birks went into partnership with his three sons (William, John and Gerald
Gerald Birks
Gerald Alfred Sigourney Birks, MC and Two Bars, RFC was a Canadian fighter ace in World War I. He assisted in the founding of Khaki University during World War I-Education:...
), and the name of the firm became Henry Birks and Sons. As the focus of Montreal's commercial centre moved northward towards Saint Catherine Street
Saint Catherine Street
This article is about the street in Montreal called the rue Sainte-Catherine in French. For other streets of this name, see Rue Sainte-Catherine ....
, the Birks store moved to new premises on Phillips Square in 1894, where the company still maintains a store and corporate offices. Commencing in 1901, Birks oversaw the expansion of the company across the country, with stores opening in Canada's largest cities.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
immigrants, his education was focused primarily on commerce, and he subsequently put it into practice by working in a large and successful firm. As soon as the circumstances would permit, he started his own company, which prospered and ultimately became a Canada-wide commercial empire.
Five successive generations of the Birks family have been involved in Henry Birks and Sons since its founding in 1879. One of Birks' sons, Gerald Birks
Gerald Birks
Gerald Alfred Sigourney Birks, MC and Two Bars, RFC was a Canadian fighter ace in World War I. He assisted in the founding of Khaki University during World War I-Education:...
, proposed an educational system for Canadian soldiers known as the Khaki University
Khaki University
Khaki University was a Canadian educational institution set up and managed by the general staff of the Canadian Army in Britain 1917-19 during the First World War and again 1945-46 in the Second.-History:-Founders:...
, which was ultimately implemented for all soldiers in 1917.
The William and Henry Birks Building at Montreal's McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, a Collegiate Gothic structure on University Street, is named in honour of Birks and one of his sons.