Sir Rodolphe Forget’s active connection with financial affairs began in 1890, when he joined the Montreal Stock Exchange, of which he was chosen chairman in 1908, continuing in that position until 1911, when he resigned. He was for a time connected with the business of L. J. Forget & Company, the senior partner being the late Hon. L. J. Forget. In 1909 a branch house was established in Paris and as banker and broker Sir Rodolphe Forget has attained prominence equal to that which has come to him in connection with public affairs. Many of the extensive and important corporation interests of Canada have been quickened and stimulated through his cooperation, while his sound judgment has constituted a controlling force in their management. He is president of the Quebec and Saguenay Railway, the Quebec Railway Light, Heat & Power Company; vice president of the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company; and director of the Toronto Railway Company, the Quebec Gas Company, the Sterling Coal Company, Limited, the Canadian General Electric Company, and the St. Lawrence Flour Mills Company. He was formerly president of the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company, the Eastern Canada Steel & Iron Works, Limited, the Royal Electric Company, and the Mount Royal Assurance Company; and vice president of the Canadian Securities Corporation and La Société d’Administration Générale; and director of the Duluth Street Railway Company, the Montreal-London Securities Corporation, the Black Lake Consolidated Asbestos Company, the Union Brewery Company, the Murray-Bay Lumber & Pulp Company, the City Central Real Estate Company, the Montreal Smelting & Reduction Company, the Prudential Trust Company, the Wayagamack Pulp & Paper Company, the Crown Life Insurance Company, the Canada Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, the Payne Consolidated Mining Company, La Banque Provinciale and Le Journal. In 1911 he founded La Banque Internationale du Canada. He was rated as a millionaire by the Montreal Star in 1907, which in itself is a testimonial of his power as a financier. In 1911 he headed the navigation merger. He has also been connected with the Canada Car Foundry Company, the Industrial Development Company, the Butte Central Copper Company, and the Montmorency Cotton Mills Company. All these indicate something of the wonderful scope of his business interests and activity and yet by no means give a complete record of his interest and his efforts, which have been equally strong forces in the control, development and upbuilding of organizations having to do with the public welfare. In 1911 he made a gift of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the Notre Dame Hospital, of which he is a director. He is also president of the Province of Quebec Rifle Association, and he was appointed honorary lieutenant colonel of the Sixty-fifth Carabiniers, “Mount Royal” of Montreal in 1907, and was promoted to honorary colonel in March, 1914. He is a director of the Canadian National Bureau of Breeding and is a life governor of the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society. He was vice president of Credit Foncier Franco-Canadien. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Canadian Handicrafts Guild of Montreal, holding the office in 1908.
In politics an independent-conservative, Sir Rodolphe Forget has sat for Charlevoix in the house of commons since 1904. In 1911 he was elected for Charlevoix and Montmorency—said to be the first occasion in the history of the Dominion in which a member in opposition was elected for two constituencies. He was offered a portfolio when Premier Borden formed his cabinet, but declined. He believes in a direct contribution from Canada for the imperial navy and opposed the Taft-Fielding reciprocity pact. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. In club circles he is well known as a member of the Mount Royal, the St. James, Club Lafontaine, Club Canadien, Club St. Denis, Canada, Montreal, Montreal Jockey, Montreal Hunt, Canadian, Forest and Stream, Montreal Curling, Montreal Military Institute, Royal Montreal Golf, Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Clubs, of Montreal, and the Garrison Club of Quebec, in many of which he has held official positions. He has been termed “the young Napoleon of St. François Xavier Street.” He has manifested Napoleonic powers in other connections and his strength, power and resource have given him the position of honor and distinction which he now occupies. His residence is at No. 71 Ontario Avenue, and his summer home is “Gil Mont,” St. Irenee les Bains, Quebec.
FITZ-JAMES E. BROWNE.
One of the best known citizens of Montreal whose reputation in business is international is Fitz-James E. Browne, president of the famous and highly successful firm known as “The House of Browne, Limited,” real-estate experts, auctioneers, architects and fire insurance agents. He was born in Montreal on the 22d of September, 1871, a son of the late John James and Agnes Dunlop (Hay) Browne, and comes of Irish and Scotch ancestry. He acquired his early education at the McTavish school and afterward attended Lincoln College at Sorel, province of Quebec.
After leaving school Mr. Browne became associated in the architectural profession with his father and soon after the death of the latter, in 1893, Fitz-James E. Browne engaged in the real-estate business, continuing the firm name of John James Browne until 1894, when the present title of “The House of Browne, Limited” was assumed, and no real-estate firm in the Dominion is as widely known. Mr. Browne’s advertising measures are both progressive and aggressive as well as unique. He has been a pioneer in methods that others attempt to imitate. As a real-estate auctioneer it is doubtful if he has an equal. He has officiated at the biggest sales on record in Canada and holds the proud honor of having sold the highest priced property per foot in Montreal. He possesses a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of values as well as a thorough and practical understanding of all the intricacies of the real-estate business in the city, and his upright business methods have won him the esteem and confidence of all. His knowledge of architecture from both the scientific and practical standpoint is broad, and as a real-estate expert he stands in the front rank. He is frequently called upon to address meetings of real-estate dealers and deliver lectures upon real-estate selling in both Canada and the United States.
Mr. Browne was married in August, 1896, to Miss Sarsie Geraldine Nagle of Montreal. Her tragic death, resulting from injuries sustained in being struck by a tram car, occurred on November 15, 1913. She is survived by two sons: John James Ethelbert and Henry Shewbridge Bashford.
Like the majority of progressive business men of the day, Mr. Browne keeps well informed on leading questions and issues, but does not seek nor desire the honors and emoluments of office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs. In his younger days he devoted much time to amateur sport, in which he still retains deep interest. As a member of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association he was foremost in opposition to the introduction of professionalism into the organization. He was a prime factor in the organization of the St. Patrick’s Amateur Athletic Association and has since been its leading spirit. Mr. Browne is a very public-spirited man and any movement for the advancement of the city, province or Dominion finds in him a most hearty supporter.