Edwin Atwater

Edwin Atwater
Edwin Atwater
Born	Template:Birth date; Williston, Vermont, United States
Died	June 18, 1874 (aged 65)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, corporate leader, municipal official
Years active	1830–1874
Known for	Pioneer importer of glass into Canada; founding Montreal City and District Savings Bank (Laurentian Bank of Canada); Montreal City Council alderman; president of Montreal Board of Trade

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Edwin Atwater, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Edwin Atwater (September 14, 1808 – June 18, 1874) was a prominent Canadian entrepreneur, corporate leader, and municipal official based in Montreal. He established a venture specializing in paints, varnishes, and plate glass, becoming the pioneer importer of glass into Canada. In 1838, he participated as a juror in the trial that acquitted François Jalbert of killing a British officer during the Lower Canada Rebellion, despite considerable anglophone public demand for conviction.

In 1846, Atwater was instrumental in founding the Montreal City and District Savings Bank—today known as Laurentian Bank of Canada—where he held multiple executive positions. He secured election to Montreal City Council as a councillor in 1850 and advanced to alderman by 1852, dedicating efforts to enhancing the city’s water supply system. By 1861, he presided over the Montreal Board of Trade and maintained active involvement in various regional commercial enterprises. Several Montreal landmarks—including Atwater Street, the Atwater Library, Market, and station—bear his name in recognition of his contributions.

Early life and business

Edwin Atwater was born on September 14, 1808, in Williston, Vermont. He relocated to Lower Canada in 1830 and settled in Montreal where he initially worked as a sign and house painter. Subsequently, he joined forces with his brother Albert to launch a business dealing in paints, varnishes, and plate glass—the first enterprise to import glass into Canada.

In 1845, Atwater collaborated with Frederick Smith and William Henry Watkins Jr. to create Canada Glass Works, which established the first window glass manufacturing facility in Dorchester (now Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu). Atwater’s primary responsibility involved overseeing product distribution.

The following year, in response to an initiative by Montreal Bishop Ignace Bourget, Atwater and other notable businessmen founded the Montreal City and District Savings Bank aimed at providing small depositors with secure financial services; this institution continues today as Laurentian Bank of Canada. Additionally, in 1846 he co-founded Montreal’s inaugural telegraph company—the Montreal Telegraph Company—and later helped establish the Montreal and Troy Telegraph Company in 1849.

Political life

Atwater was elected as a councillor representing Saint-Antoine ward on the Montreal City Council in 1850. He progressed to serve as an alderman for the same ward from 1852 until 1857. Driven by a commitment to modernize Montreal’s water infrastructure, he chaired the aqueduct commission and spearheaded initiatives to upgrade the city’s water system. He successfully advocated for hiring Thomas Keefer to lead this project and promoted municipal investment as essential for economic growth while also working diligently to strengthen city finances. In 1865, Atwater acted as Montreal’s delegate at a municipal conference held in Detroit, United States.

Later business career

Between 1859 and 1861, Atwater held the presidency of the Montreal City and District Bank. In 1866, amid concerns over potential Fenian raids threatening bank deposits, he joined a committee tasked with safeguarding client withdrawals and maintaining financial stability.

That same year, he was president of the Montreal Board of Trade and served ex officio on the Harbor Commission. Atwater also contributed funds to McGill University for acquiring a copy of The Birds of America. As a co-founder and vice-president of the Merchants' Bank, he simultaneously held executive roles on the board of Citizens' Insurance Company of Canada.

In 1866, Atwater constructed a two-story greystone residence for his family in Westmount. By 1872, he invested $2,000 alongside other entrepreneurs in the Montreal Colonization Railway project designed to enhance freight transportation from the Ottawa Valley to Montreal—strengthening the city’s commercial prominence and providing competition to the Grand Trunk Railway.

Personal life, death, and legacy

Edwin Atwater, affiliated with the American Presbyterian Church, wed Lucy Huntington Greene on May 23, 1833. Together, they raised eight children—equally divided between four sons and four daughters. In recognition of his service as a municipal councillor, Montreal commemorated him in 1871 by naming Atwater Avenue after the ward he represented. Along this thoroughfare, prominent sites such as the Atwater Library, Atwater Market, and Atwater station also carry his name. After enduring several weeks of illness, he passed away on June 18, 1874.

Works cited

External links