George Frederick Carruthers (1846-1918)

Businessman, soldier.

Born on 19 September 1846 in Toronto, the son of Frederick Fraser Carruthers and Georgiana Barnes. He was educated at Upper Canada College and at Toronto University. He served with the militia during the Fenian Raids, 1866-70, and held the Fenian Raid medal. After four years with the Grand Trunk Railway he came to Manitoba in 1871. He was first associated with Alexander Begg and later became joint editor and proprietor of the Manitoba Gazette. In 1874 he entered the fire insurance business and became managing director of the Canada West Fire Insurance Company, in partnership with J. H. Brock.

He was Captain of the Winnipeg Infantry and in 1914 he organized the reserve militia Winnipeg Infantry regiment and was gazetted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1915. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council for a number of years, and during his term of office saw the passing of the Public Parks Act in the Manitoba Legislature in 1892. He was a president of the Manitoba Rifle Association, president of the Winnipeg Board of Trade, a founder of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, and a life governor of the Winnipeg General Hospital. He was instrumental in setting up the first Parks Board the following year and purchasing four parks. He was a Mason and a Conservative.

He was married to Harriet Jane Chambers, with whom he had a son (Francis Frederick Carruthers) and four daughters. He was a member of the Manitoba Club and the Western Canada Military Institute Society; AF & AM (32°). Recreations: boating, fishing, shooting.

He died on 23 June 1918 and was buried in Winnipeg's St. John's Cemetery.

He is commemorated by Carruthers Avenue in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, 1911. C. W. Parker, editor. Canadian Press Association, Vancouver.

Profile revised: 26 December 2009

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