From: "The Dictionary of Canadian Biography"
By W. Stewart Wallace, MacMillan Co.of Canada,
2nd edition 1945
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First Baron (1853-1923), president of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (1898-1918), was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 6, 1853, the son of Thomas Shaughnessy, of Limerick, Ireland. He entered the employ of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1869, and in 1882 he joined the staff of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He became president of this railway in 1898, and continued as such until 1918. He died at Montreal on December 9, 1923. In 1880 he married Elizabeth Bridget Nagle, of Milwaukee; and by her he had two sons and three daughters. In 1901 he was created a knight bachelor, and in 1907 a K.C.V.O.; and in 1916 he was created Baron Shaughnessy, in the peerage of the United Kingdom. He was a D.C.L. of Trinity College, Dublin, and an LL.D. of Dartmouth College and of McGill University. From: "Canadian Men & Women of the Time
1912"
Canadian Railway service. Son of the late Thomas Shaughnessy and Mary, both native or Ireland; born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 6, 1853; educated local schools; D.C.L. (Hon.), Trinity College, Dublin, 1911; married 1880 to Elizabeth Bridget Nagle (Vice-president Women’s National Immigration Society; a governor Montreal Maternity Hospital; a member general committee, Victorian Order of Nurses, Montreal; president, Hospital for Incurables, etc.), daughter N. Nagle, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Entered railway service in purchasing department, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 1869; general storekeeper, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 1879-82; general purchasing agent, Canadian Pacific Railway, 1882-4; assistant to general manager, ditto, 1884-5; assistant general manager, ditto, 1885-9; assistant to president, ditto, 1889-91; Vice-president and director, ditto, 1891-8; since June 13, 1898, has been president, ditto; is Vice-president and director Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway, Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway, and B.C. Southern Railways; president, Montreal and Western Railway and Summerland Development Co.; a director Accident Insurance Co., Guarantee Co. of north America, Can. N.-W. Land Co., Dominion Dry Dock Co., Reid Nfd. Co., New Brunswick Railway, Bank of Montreal and Royal Trust Co.; elected president King Edward Memorial Committee, Montreal, 1911; is honorary president, Canadian branch, St. John Ambulance Association; a governor Western Hospital and Laval University; rated as a millionaire by Montreal Star, 1911; one of the 23 men who are according to the Montreal Standard, at the basis of Can. Finance; a delegate International Railway Congress, 1905; knighted by King Edward, 1901; K.C.V.O., 1907; holder Order of the Sacred Treasure of the 2nd class Japan, 1907; appointed a Knight of Grace, Order of the Hosp. of St. John of Jerusalem in England, 1910; F.R.C.I., 1902; held private audience with His Majesty King George, Marlborough House, 1908 believes in home rule for Ireland and “Canada for Canadians”. Religion: Roman Catholic
“The king of railway presidents.” – The Globe ”A bluff, straightforward, hard-hitting Irishman.” – Can. Courier “A man of commanding powers, perhaps the ablest man in Canada.” -- James Creelman “As an operator of railways,
probably has not a superior on this continent, which is equivalent to saying
that he has not an equal in this line in the world.” – Can. Life &
Resources
See also: his son, William James Shaughnessy |