Arthur Irving

Arthur Irving
Born	Template:Birth date Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	May 13, 2024(2024-05-13) (aged 93) Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	President and sole proprietor of Irving Oil; Chancellor of Acadia University (1996–2010); President of Ducks Unlimited Canada (1986–1987)

Arthur Lee Irving (July 14, 1930 – May 13, 2024) was a prominent Canadian billionaire entrepreneur and the second son of industrial magnate K. C. Irving from the Irving family. Born in Saint John, he held the position of president and eventually became the sole proprietor of Irving Oil through the Arthur Irving Family Trust. At the time of his passing, his fortune was valued between and .

Irving held the role of chancellor at Acadia University from 1996 until 2010, having briefly studied there prior to entering the family enterprise. Additionally, he was a longtime board member and served as president of Ducks Unlimited Canada between 1986 and 1987. His accolades included appointments to both the Order of New Brunswick and the Order of Canada.

Biography

Arthur Irving entered the world on July 14, 1930, in Saint John, New Brunswick, as the second son of K. C. Irving. His mother, Harriet Lila Irving (née ), hailed from Kent County.<ref> His early education took place at Winter Street School and Rothesay Collegiate School, followed by enrollment at Acadia University, which he left to join the family business.<ref> He started his career at Irving Oil in 1951 and ascended to its presidency in 1972 after his father retired.<ref>

He dedicated more than thirty years as a board member of Ducks Unlimited Canada,<ref> including a term as president from 1986 to 1987.<ref>

After K. C. Irving passed away in 1992, ownership of the Irving enterprises was apportioned among Arthur and his brothers James and Jack. Arthur took charge of Irving Oil, which encompassed gas stations, oil refineries, tankers, distribution terminals, and additional assets.<ref> In 2018, a share formerly owned by Jack was transferred to the Arthur Irving Family Trust.<ref>

During his tenure as chancellor, Arthur along with his brothers contributed two facilities to Acadia University in 2002: the K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.<ref><ref> In collaboration with Acadia University and Ducks Unlimited Canada, he helped establish the Beaubassin Research Station in Aulac in 2012.<ref> The Irving family also donated $80 million to Dartmouth College in 2016 to found the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society.<ref>

Up until October 2023, Irving served as chair of the board at Irving Oil,<ref> maintaining active participation until his death.<ref> His resignation coincided with a strategic review announced in June 2023 that might result in a full or partial divestiture of the company.<ref>

Awards

In 2002, Irving was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, followed by induction into the Order of New Brunswick in 2012. Alongside his brothers, he was inducted into the 2008 Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2007. The year after, both he and his wife were awarded honorary Doctor of Letters degrees by the University of New Brunswick. In 2013, he received New Brunswick’s Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Award. In recognition of his contributions, Rotary International bestowed upon him the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2019.

Personal life and death

Irving's first marriage was to Joan Carlisle, with whom he fathered four children before their divorce in 1980. Subsequently, he wed Sandra Ring, and together they had a daughter, Sarah Irving. He maintained his primary residence in Saint John and also possessed a property in Boston, Massachusetts.

He passed away from cancer on May 13, 2024, at the age of 93, at Massachusetts General Hospital. At the time of his passing, his net worth was estimated by Forbes to be , while Bloomberg placed it at . His funeral service took place in Saint John.

See also

• List of Canadian university leaders