Robert Henry Bethune
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Bethune was a Canadian banker born in Cobourg, Upper Canada
. He was a son of Alexander Neil Bethune
.
Robert was raised in Cobourg, educated in private schools and then attended Upper Canada College
in Toronto. He began his banking career in Brockville with the Bank of Montreal. He impressed his employers and his responsibilities increased. By 1864 he was the manager in St Catharines and married. He also changed employers and moved to the Quebec Bank
where they were pioneering new approaches to lending.
In 1870, Bethune took his considerable skills to the newly formed Dominion Bank in Toronto and became the cashier. He began a period of quiet expansion and growth. He was the general manager there for 24 years and oversaw a period of highly successful growth that spanned three economic downturns.
Bethune could be described as a bold banker and strong administrator who had the loyalty of his staff. While the bank had a conservative approach to investment risk, he worked within those parameters to support existing customers through trying times.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. He was a son of Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune was a Church of England clergyman and bishop and the son of the Reverend John Bethune. He and his wife had ten children. They included Robert Henry Bethune, a noted banker with the Dominion Bank. He was a brother to John, also a clergyman, who was acting principal of McGill...
.
Robert was raised in Cobourg, educated in private schools and then attended Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in Toronto. He began his banking career in Brockville with the Bank of Montreal. He impressed his employers and his responsibilities increased. By 1864 he was the manager in St Catharines and married. He also changed employers and moved to the Quebec Bank
Quebec Bank
Quebec Bank was founded on June 9, 1818 to meet a perceived need by some merchants and residents Quebec City. They wanted an alternative to the newly founded Bank of Montreal which they felt was inadequate for the needs of the province....
where they were pioneering new approaches to lending.
In 1870, Bethune took his considerable skills to the newly formed Dominion Bank in Toronto and became the cashier. He began a period of quiet expansion and growth. He was the general manager there for 24 years and oversaw a period of highly successful growth that spanned three economic downturns.
Bethune could be described as a bold banker and strong administrator who had the loyalty of his staff. While the bank had a conservative approach to investment risk, he worked within those parameters to support existing customers through trying times.