Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Drummond, George Alexander
DRUMMOND, Sir GEORGE ALEXANDER (1829–1910), senator in the parliament of Canada, and president of the bank of Montreal, born in Edinburgh on 11 Oct. 1829, was son of George Drummond, a member of the city council, by his wife Margaret Pringle. Educated at the Edinburgh High School and attending the university for several terms, he emigrated in 1854 to Canada, and became manager for John Redpath & Son of Montreal, pioneers of the sugar refining industry. In 1879 he founded the Canada Sugar Refining Company, and became the first president. At the same time he interested himself in many other enterprises and was president of the Cumberland Railway Co., the Canada Jute Co., and the Intercolonial Coal Co. While president of the Montreal Board of Trade, a semi-official organisation of business men (1886-8), he induced the government to assume the cost of deepening the ship channel from Montreal to Quebec, so as to make it navigable by large ocean-going steamers. In 1882 he was elected director of the bank of Montreal, vice-president in 1887, and president in 1905, the position of highest distinction open in Canada to men engaged in finance.
Drummond began a political career in 1872, when he contested unsuccessfully the constituency of Montreal West. From 1880 until his death he was senator in the parliament of Canada. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1904 and C.V.O. in 1908. As philanthropist, he was best known as president of the Royal Edward Institute for the prevention of tuberculosis, and he endowed the home for incurables conducted by the sisters of St. Margaret.
Deeply interested in art, Drummond was president of the Art Association of Montreal 1896-9, and was a discriminating and successful collector of pictures. His collection includes first-rate examples of the work of Constable, Corot, Cuyp, Daubigny, Franz Hals, De Hooge, Israels, Jacob Maris, Matthew Maris, William Maris, Mauve, Troyon, Vandyck, Velasquez, Watts, Lorraine, and Rubens. He was owner of five pictures by Turner, namely, 'Port of Ruysdael,' 'Sun of Venice,' 'Zurich,' 'Duolley Castle,' and 'Chepstow.' The collection is maintained intact in Montreal by his widow, and is easily accessible by visitors.
In later years he spent a large part of his time at Huntleywood, his country place near Montreal, where he was a successful breeder of cattle and sheep. He was devoted to golf, and was president of the Canadian Golf Association. He died in Montreal on 2 Feb. 1910, and was buried in Mount Royal cemetery. Sir George Drummond was twice married: (1) in 1857 to Helen, daughter of John Redpath of Montreal, having by her two daughters and five sons; and (2) in 1884 to Grace Julia, daughter of A. D. Parker, of Montreal, having by her two sons.
Portraits by Sir George Reid, Troubetski, and Robert Harris are in possession of the family; a fourth, by Joliffe Walker, is owned by the Mount Royal Club, Montreal.
[Private information.]