John Forsyth (1762-1837)
Colonel John Forsyth, M.L.C., J.P., of Forsyth, Richardson & Co., Montreal
He was born at Huntly, Aberdeenshire. He initially came out to New York to work for his uncle's influential firm, Phyn, Ellice & Co., but as a result of the Revolution the firm moved their base of operations to Montreal about 1779. After Ellice died in 1805, John, his brother Thomas and their first cousin, John Richardson, reorganised the firm that then became known as Forsyth, Richardson & Co., East India Merchants and partners in the North West Company. In 1817, he co-founded the Bank of Montreal and served as its Vice-President. He was Colonel of the Royal Montreal Cavalry and importing a pack of foxhounds from England he co-founded the Montreal Hunt Club in 1826 - the oldest hunt still in existence in North America. He was a Justice of the Peace; Life Governor of the Montreal General Hospital; and, was recommended by Lord Dalhousie to serve as a Member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada.
In 1794, Jacob Mountain recalled dining in a large company at Forsyth’s home on Notre Dame Street in Montreal: "The house itself is elegant, and the dinner splendid... People here are fond of good living and take care to want no luxury". During the 1790s, Forsyth welcomed refugees from the French Revolution into his home and he was an important member of the notorious Beaver Club. In 1798, he married Margaret, daughter of Charles Grant, of Quebec, and sister of Frederick Grant J.P., D.L., of Mount Cyrus, Kincardine.
The Forsyths were the parents of three children: their eldest son (William Forsyth-Grant) inherited Mount Cyrus that he remodelled and renamed Ecclesgreig Castle, a 430,000-acre estate that remained in the Forsyth-Grant family up until the mid 20th Century; their second son married a daughter of Samuel Gerrard, President of the Bank of Montreal; and, their daughter married Captain George Gregory, son of the fur baron and fellow Beaver Club member John Gregory. John Forsyth retired to London and died in 1837 at Morley's Hotel that back then occupied the entire east side of Trafalgar Square.
In 1794, Jacob Mountain recalled dining in a large company at Forsyth’s home on Notre Dame Street in Montreal: "The house itself is elegant, and the dinner splendid... People here are fond of good living and take care to want no luxury". During the 1790s, Forsyth welcomed refugees from the French Revolution into his home and he was an important member of the notorious Beaver Club. In 1798, he married Margaret, daughter of Charles Grant, of Quebec, and sister of Frederick Grant J.P., D.L., of Mount Cyrus, Kincardine.
The Forsyths were the parents of three children: their eldest son (William Forsyth-Grant) inherited Mount Cyrus that he remodelled and renamed Ecclesgreig Castle, a 430,000-acre estate that remained in the Forsyth-Grant family up until the mid 20th Century; their second son married a daughter of Samuel Gerrard, President of the Bank of Montreal; and, their daughter married Captain George Gregory, son of the fur baron and fellow Beaver Club member John Gregory. John Forsyth retired to London and died in 1837 at Morley's Hotel that back then occupied the entire east side of Trafalgar Square.
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Contributed by Mark Meredith on 26/07/2021 and last updated on 01/12/2021.