Memorable Manitobans: John Galt (1856-1933)

Wholesale merchant.

Born at Montreal, Quebec on 6 March 1856, son of Alexander Tilloch Galt and Amy Gordon Torrance, he was educated at the Montreal high school, Barron’s school (Lennoxville), Rice Lake and Gotha, Germany. He commenced a career as a private secretary to his father, then a member of Halifax fisheries commission, in 1876. He was in the service of the Bank of Montreal from 1877 to 1882. He came to Winnipeg in 1882 and established the wholesale brokerage firm of G. F. and J Galt, located at 103 Princess Street, Winnipeg. He was a director of the Alberta Railway & Irrigation Company, Union Bank, and Canadian Fire Insurance Company. He was a member of the advisory board of the Royal Trust Company.

In 1885, he married Isabella Atkinson at Chicago, Illinois. They had a daughter, Isabelle Galt (b 1887). After his wife’s death, he married Mabel Patton Henderson in 1890. They had three children: John Galt (b 1890), Maryon Galt (b 1892), and Evelyn Galt (b 1894). He was a member of the Manitoba Club, St. Charles Country Club, Lakewood Country Club, and Mount Royal (Montreal). He served as President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg from 1916 to 1917. Conservative. Anglican. In 1911, he lived at 221 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg.

He died at Victoria, British Columbia in April 1933.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Anne Building / Blue Ribbon Building (87 King Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

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

A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.

The Leading Financial, Business & Professional Men of Winnipeg, published by Edwin McCormick, Photographs by T. J. Leatherdale, Compiled and printed by Stone Limited, c1913. [copy available at the Archives of Manitoba]

“John Galt expires in Victoria, BC, aged 76” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 1933.

Crescentwood: A History by R. R. Rostecki, Crescentwood Home Owners Association, 1993.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 22 July 2011

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