George Campbell MacDougall

George Campbell MacDougall
Born	1843 Devon, England
Died	March 31, 1892(1892-03-31) (aged 48–49)
Occupation	Stockbroker
Years active	1860s–1892
Known for	Co-founder and Chairman of the Montreal Stock Exchange

George Campbell MacDougall (1843 – March 31, 1892) was a prominent Montreal stockbroker affiliated with the MacDougall Brothers firm (presently MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier). He played a significant role in founding the Montreal Stock Exchange and held the position of its Chairman.

Early life

Referred to as Campbell, he was born in Devon, England, as the youngest child of Major Peter MacDougall (1774–1861). During the 1850s, his family moved to Outremont, Canada East, where they joined his older half-brother, (Dugald) Lorn MacDougall, who was living in Montreal. Campbell received his education at the High School of Montreal and later at McGill University. Additionally, he was a skilled equestrian who participated in horse shows held in New York.

Career

Campbell commenced his professional journey at the Bank of Montreal, supported by his brother Lorn. He served in its New York City branch before transitioning to a brokerage firm there. In 1866, he returned to Montreal and took positions at MacDougall & Davidson (operated by Lorn) and MacDougall & Budden (managed by his brother Leigh). By the late 1860s, he partnered with (Hartland) St. Clair MacDougall to establish MacDougall Brothers, a stockbroking enterprise located on St. Francois Xavier Street in Montreal. The company conducted business across New York City, London, Montreal, and Toronto, dealing with international stocks and bonds. In 1876, Campbell was instrumental in securing a significant involvement for his brothers in the $500,000 stock offering by the Bell Telephone Company of Canada, strengthening their prominence within Montreal’s financial community. Under the leadership of Campbell and St. Clair, the firm saw considerable growth in both clientele and transaction volume. Although he passed away at age forty-nine, Campbell left behind an influential financial legacy as Chairman and co-founder of the Montreal Stock Exchange alongside his siblings.

Family

Campbell married Grace Brydges (deceased 1883), daughter of Charles John Brydges, in 1875; they lived on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal. The couple had one son, Hartland Brydges MacDougall. Following Grace’s passing, Campbell remarried in 1887 to Mary Louise MacDonald (1857–1951), daughter of Major Donald Alexander MacDonald from Glengarry County, Ontario. Together they had a daughter named Mary Beatrice. Besides his business accomplishments, Campbell was recognized as an avid sportsman and accomplished horseman who owned several distinguished horses.