Donald MacInnes (1824-1900)

He was born at Oban, Argyllshire, and came to Upper Canada with his parents in 1840. He started his career as a dry goods merchant in Dundas before relocating to Hamilton where he became one of the leading merchants and manufacturers in Canada. He was President of the Bank of Hamilton; President of the Canada Cotton Company, of Cornwall; President of the Saskatchewan Valley Railway Company; and, a director of the Canada Life Insurance Company. He was Chairman of the Royal Commission (1880) appointed to inquire into the organization of the Civil Service of Canada and was elected to the Senate the following year on the recommendation of Sir John A. Macdonald. In 1863, he married Mary Amelia, the youngest daughter of Sir John Beverley Robinson 1st Bt. They had six children and lived at Dundurn Castle, Hamilton.