WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Insurance interests found a prominent representative in William Robertson in Montreal, who was largely a pioneer in the work of adapting English companies to the business methods pursued on this side of the Atlantic. A Canadian by birth, his native town was Lachute, province of Quebec, and his natal year 1847. His father, Dr. William Robertson, a graduate of the Edinburgh Medical College, settled in Lachute when a young man, there establishing himself in practice, but later removed to St. Andrews East, where he continued actively in the profession until his death, greatly endearing himself to the community by the willingness to which he responded to the call of the sick, even though it meant a self-sacrificing ride of from sixty to seventy-five miles. His patients had the utmost confidence in him and his professional efforts were a blessing to the inhabitants of that, then scarcely settled district. He married Miss Mary A. Tierney, of Ireland, and they had two sons and three daughters, the surviving son being Dr. Patrick Robertson of England. An uncle of our subject was Colin Robertson, who won fame in the northwest.
William Robertson pursued his education in the schools of St. Andrews East and from his youth up was an underwriter, having begun business when quite young by entering the insurance office of Simpson & Bethune of Montreal. Such was the reputation which he won for superior business qualifications, for executive power and administrative ability, that in 1873, when but twenty-six years of age he was elected as representative for Canada of the London & Lancashire Life Assurance Company. The duties of this office he filled most acceptably for about seventeen years, or until his life’s labors were ended in death. He projected many changes and improvements in the methods of the English offices, transacting business on this side of the Atlantic. He made thoroughly Canadian in spirit and activity, the London & Lancashire Company in the Dominion, bringing about its popularity and success. He carefully organized and systematized the business here, with the result that the London & Lancashire Company became one of the strongest insurance companies of the country.
In 1871 Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Helen I. Barnston, a daughter of George Barnston, who throughout his active life was engaged in the Hudson’s Bay service in British Columbia and in the northwest country. He came to Canada in 1821 and retired, after many years service with the Hudson’s Bay Company, spending the remainder of his days in a well earned rest in Montreal. His wife was Miss Helen Mathews of England. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson became the parents of two children, who are living: Dr. William Graeme Robertson of England, who is attached to the White Star service; and Helen M. C., at home.
Mr. Robertson was active as a faithful member of St. James Episcopal church, in which he served as warden and he also belonged to the St. James Club. His keen sagacity enabled him to recognize the different spirits of the business circles in the old world and in the new, to adapt himself to changed conditions and to work along lines of new world progress. Thus he became a recognized leader in insurance circles occupying a prominent position until 1889 when he went to Denver, Colorado, for his health, there passing away on the 26th of February, of that year.
CHARLES P. HEBERT.
Charles P. Hébert, the first president of the wholesale grocery firm of Hudon, Hébert & Company, Ltd., of Montreal, was born in the pretty little village of St. Charles on the Richelieu river, and when a young man made his way to the city which was ever afterward his home. Here he began business in a small way and by energy and industry soon built up his establishment. In 1883 he became a member of the firm of Hudon, Hébert & Company. The business was originally established under the style of E. & V. Hudon and subsequently was conducted under the name of V. Hudon and later became J. Hudon & Company. In 1906 it was incorporated as Hudon, Hébert & Company, Charles P. Hébert becoming the first president of that corporation. They are wholesale grocers and wine merchants, the premier establishment of its kind in the Dominion, importing directly from manufacturers in Europe, China, Japan, Asia Minor and the United States. They employ one hundred and seventy people in their Montreal establishment and have twenty-five salesmen constantly visiting all Canada, selling their goods from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the amount of five million dollars annually.
