Joseph E. Seagram

Joseph Emm Seagram
Born	Template:Birth date Fisher's Mills (now Cambridge), Ontario, Canada
Died	August 18, 1919(1919-08-18) (aged 78) Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician, philanthropist, racehorse owner
Known for	Founder of Seagram distillery, Canadian whisky production, member of Canadian Parliament, thoroughbred racehorse owner

Joseph Emm Seagram (April 15, 1841 – August 18, 1919) was a Canadian entrepreneur in distilling, a politician, a philanthropist, and a prominent owner of thoroughbred racehorses.

Early life

Seagram was born near Hespeler in Fisher's Mills, an area now incorporated into Cambridge, Ontario. He was the son of Octavius Augustus Seagram and Amelia Stiles, who had emigrated from Wiltshire, England. Orphaned at an early age, he and his brother Edward Frowde were brought up under the care of clergy members. Joseph attended William Tassie's boarding school located in Galt (currently part of Cambridge) and pursued business studies for one year at Bryant & Stratton College in Buffalo, New York.

Career

Upon returning from Buffalo, Seagram took on roles as a bookkeeper and mill supervisor in Galt and Stratford. Subsequently, he managed Granite Mills in Waterloo where he gained experience in distilling operations at Waterloo Distillery—a modest enterprise affiliated with George Randall Company's flour business. In 1869, Seagram acquired George Randall's share to establish Seagram and Roos. By 1883, he secured full control by purchasing the stakes held by William Hespeler and William Roos, renaming the enterprise simply as Seagram.

Concentrating on whisky production, Seagram developed one of Canada's most prosperous distilleries. His 1907 introduction of Seagram's VO whisky—named "very own" to commemorate his son Thomas’s wedding—rose to become the world’s top-selling Canadian whisky brand.

As a benefactor to Waterloo, Seagram donated a 13-acre tract now housing Grand River Hospital. His donation stipulated that hospital services be accessible to all individuals regardless of race or religion. Additionally, he held a directorship at Economical Mutual Insurance Company. In 1957, the Seagram distillery contributed $250,000 toward building Seagram Stadium at the University of Waterloo.

Political life

Seagram served on Waterloo’s town council between 1879 and 1886. He was elected as the Conservative Party representative for Waterloo North to the House of Commons during the 1896 federal election. He was acclaimed in the 1900 election and re-elected in 1904, serving until September 1908 when he opted not to run for another term.

Thoroughbred racing

At age sixteen, Seagram purchased his first racehorse and competed in events around Galt. He established Seagram Stables in 1888 and enhanced its breeding stock by importing pregnant mares sired by English stallions. From 1891 through 1898, his stables secured eight consecutive victories in the Queen's Plate—the premier Canadian horse race. During his lifetime, Joseph Seagram won this event fifteen times; his descendants added five more wins.

He was instrumental in founding the Ontario Jockey Club in 1881, joined its board in 1898, and served as president from 1906 until his passing. In 1908, he played a role in creating the Canadian Racing Association.

When established in 1976, Joseph E. Seagram was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame under the builder category.

Personal life

Seagram married Stephanie Urbs, who was the niece of Jacob Hespeler; together they had six children: Edward F., Thomas W., Joseph H., Norman, Alice, and Marie (who died during infancy). The family resided in Bratton House—a large 65-room residence constructed in Waterloo in 1886. The house remained within the family until Edward's death in 1937. After standing vacant for several years, it was sold in 1939 to the Kitchener-Waterloo Orphanage board and functioned as Willow Hall orphanage until 1960. Later, the property was sold to St. John's Lutheran Church which demolished the building to erect a church that continues to operate on that site.

Death

Joseph Emm Seagram passed away in Waterloo in 1919 and was laid to rest at Mount Hope Cemetery. In 1928, his descendants sold the business to Samuel Bronfman.

External links

• Seagram Museum collection held at the Hagley Museum and Library, containing archival materials related to the Seagram Company.
• Photograph of Joseph Emm Seagram available through the Waterloo Public Library Digital Collections, which includes various multimedia and newspaper resources concerning Joseph Seagram, his enterprise, and family.