Theodore Hart
Encyclopedia
Theodore Jonathan Hart was a Canadian
businessman from Montreal
, Lower Canada
. He was the son of Benjamin Hart
and grandson of Aaron Hart
.
agency and mercantile business. After his father's death in 1855 Theodore established a similar but separate business which was to include large land holdings and extensive corporate interests. His mercantile business consisted of a general wholesale and retail trade and a part interest in at least one ship that traded between Britain
and Canada East
.
Hart was one of the incorporators of the Grand Trunk Railway
in 1851 and a provisional director of the Montreal and Bytown Railway established in 1853. He also held shares in the Bank of Montreal
and the City Bank
. Hart was particularly active as an investor in such mining concerns as the Upper Canada Mining Company, the Echo Lake Mining Company, and the Montreal Mining Company.
Hart also participated actively in and contributed generously to the life of his community. A member of the militia
, he served during the 1837 rebellion
and by 1846 had attained the rank of captain in the 3rd Battalion of Montreal militia. Along with his father he signed the Annexation Manifesto
of 1849 and later became a political partisan of Luther Hamilton Holton
, a Liberal
and the man he felt would serve the best commercial interests of the city. Hart made generous financial donations to McGill College
's general endowment, the Montreal Protestant House of Industry and Refuge, and the Montreal General Hospital
, which he served as a governor for several terms. In recognition of his philanthropy the hospital made him a life governor in 1878.
Although a member of one of Montreal's most prominent Jewish families and an early, active participant in the Shearith Israel
congregation, Hart became estranged from his religious community in the late 1840s. The cause of his estrangement may have been his second marriage, to Mary Kent Bradbury, a Unitarian
from Boston
. His first marriage on January 4, 1842 to Frances "Fanny" Michaels David, his first cousin, ended with her death in 1844 after she had given birth to two daughters: Sarah Harline and Fanny Augusta. By his second marriage Hart had three sons and a daughter: Charles Theodore, Frederick L'Estrange Levey, Robert Augustus Baldwin, and Edith Marie. Like several of his business contemporaries, including his friend Luther Holton, both Hart and his wife joined the Unitarian Church of the Messiah.
on May 28, 1887 at the home of his daughter, the wife of a French prefect, in Mézières
.
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 from 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...
, Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. He was the son of Benjamin Hart
Benjamin Hart (businessman)
Benjamin Hart was a Canadian businessman, militia officer, and justice of the peace.-Early life:Benjamin Hart was born in Montreal to Aaron Hart, a prominent merchant of Trois-Rivières, and Dorothea Judah....
and grandson of Aaron Hart
Aaron Hart
Chief Rabbi Aaron Uri Phoebus Hart was the first chief rabbi of the United Kingdom and the rabbi of the Great Synagogue of London from 1704 until his death....
.
Career
Theodore Hart began his business career in his father's firm, Benjamin Hart and Company, a Montreal insuranceInsurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
agency and mercantile business. After his father's death in 1855 Theodore established a similar but separate business which was to include large land holdings and extensive corporate interests. His mercantile business consisted of a general wholesale and retail trade and a part interest in at least one ship that traded between Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
.
Hart was one of the incorporators of the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
in 1851 and a provisional director of the Montreal and Bytown Railway established in 1853. He also held shares in 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...
and the City Bank
City Bank
The City Bank was an early bank in Ontario in the 19th century and merged with Royal Canadian Bank to form Consolidated Bank of Canada in 1876....
. Hart was particularly active as an investor in such mining concerns as the Upper Canada Mining Company, the Echo Lake Mining Company, and the Montreal Mining Company.
Hart also participated actively in and contributed generously to the life of his community. A member of the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, he served during the 1837 rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
and by 1846 had attained the rank of captain in the 3rd Battalion of Montreal militia. Along with his father he signed the Annexation Manifesto
Montreal Annexation Manifesto
The Montreal Annexation Manifesto was a political document dated September 14, 1849 and signed in Montreal, Quebec, calling for Canada's annexation by the United States....
of 1849 and later became a political partisan of Luther Hamilton Holton
Luther Hamilton Holton
Luther Hamilton Holton was a Quebec businessman and political figure. He represented Châteauguay as a Liberal member in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1880.- Early life and education :...
, a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and the man he felt would serve the best commercial interests of the city. Hart made generous financial donations to McGill College
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...
's general endowment, the Montreal Protestant House of Industry and Refuge, and the Montreal General Hospital
Montreal General Hospital
The Montreal General Hospital is a hospital in Montreal, Canada, established on May 1, 1819 and an early teaching hospital. First located on the corner of Craig and St-Lawrence Streets with only 24 beds, it moved in 1822 to a new 72-bed building on Dorchester Street. It is currently situated on...
, which he served as a governor for several terms. In recognition of his philanthropy the hospital made him a life governor in 1878.
Although a member of one of Montreal's most prominent Jewish families and an early, active participant in the Shearith Israel
Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal also known as Shearith Israel is a Montreal synagogue, located on St. Kevin Street in Snowdon, which is the oldest Jewish congregation in Canada. The Congregation traces its history back to 1760 and was formally established in 1768...
congregation, Hart became estranged from his religious community in the late 1840s. The cause of his estrangement may have been his second marriage, to Mary Kent Bradbury, a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. His first marriage on January 4, 1842 to Frances "Fanny" Michaels David, his first cousin, ended with her death in 1844 after she had given birth to two daughters: Sarah Harline and Fanny Augusta. By his second marriage Hart had three sons and a daughter: Charles Theodore, Frederick L'Estrange Levey, Robert Augustus Baldwin, and Edith Marie. Like several of his business contemporaries, including his friend Luther Holton, both Hart and his wife joined the Unitarian Church of the Messiah.
Later life
In 1872 Hart gave up business and five years later retired to Europe for health reasons, although he visited Montreal periodically. He died of stomach cancerStomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
on May 28, 1887 at the home of his daughter, the wife of a French prefect, in Mézières
Charleville-Mézières
Charleville-Mézières is a commune in northern France, capital of the Ardennes department in the Champagne-Ardenne region. Charleville-Mézières is located on the banks of the Meuse River.-History:...
.