In the 19th century, the Joseph family included several notable individuals, among them Henry Joseph (1773-1832) and his sons, Jacob Henry (1814-1907) and Jesse (1817-1904). Henry Joseph was the nephew of Aaron Hart, one of Canada’s first Jewish settlers. Prominent shopkeepers and business men, the three Josephs played pivotal roles in the economic development of Montreal and Canada. Indeed, Jacob Henry and Jesse were the only major Jewish financiers of their time.
Henry Joseph emigrated from England to Canada in 1790. He originally settled in Berthier, where he became involved in the fur trade. He was also active in maritime shipping and is considered the founder of Canada’s merchant marine. In 1801, his ship, the Eweretta, became the first vessel to provide a direct trade link between Lower Canada and England. Along with several associates, he founded the Bank of Montreal in 1817.
For his part, Jacob Henry contributed to the development of the country’s first telegraph system. In 1862, he and his brother Jesse were among the founders of the St. Lawrence Railroad, Canada’s first railway. Jacob Henry was also president of the Montreal Elevator Company and become a leading figure in the worlds of finance and real estate in Lower Canada. His wife, Sarah née Gratz, was born in Philadelphia to one of the most prominent Jewish American families of the 19th century. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Jesse Joseph was active in finance, real estate and commerce. In addition to contributing to the development of the rail and telegraph systems, he was president of the Montreal Gas Company and the Montreal Street Railway Company. In 1852, he founded the Theatre Royal, Montreal’s largest cultural institution at the time. In the political sphere, he served as the Belgian consul in Montreal and was granted the title Chevalier of the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium. Jesse Joseph was known for the private receptions he held in his Sherbrooke Street mansion, a building that would later house the first McCord Museum. When the mansion had to be demolished, McGill University’s McLennan Library was built on the site.
The Josephs were very active in Canadian society and contributed to several philanthropic organizations, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. As well, the sons served in the Montreal Militia during the Lower Canada Rebellion. Their commitment to the Jewish community was unwavering, and they regularly attended the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation.
Compiled by Valérie Beauchemin, translated by Helge Dascher.
Sources
Jedwab, Jack. “Joseph, Jacob Henry.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13 University of Toronto/Universite Laval.
“Joseph” Encyclopaedia Judaica. The Gale Group, 2008. Jewish Virtual Library. Web.
Joseph, Anne.Heritage of a Patriarch: Canada’s First Jewish Settlers and the Continuing Story of these Families in Canada, Sillery: Septentrion, 1995.
King, Joe. Fabled City : The Jews of Montreal. Montreal: Éditions Price-Patterson Ltd, 2009.
Tulchinsky, Gerald. Taking Root: The Origins of the Canadian Jewish Community. Hanover: Brandeis University Press, 1993.
Wolff, Anette R. “Henry Joseph” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, University of Toronto/Universite Laval, 1987. Web.
Wolff, Martin. The Jews of Canada American Jewish Year Book. American Jewish Committee (AJC),Jewish Publication Society (JPS). 1926: 154-229.Pictures
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