Robert Armour
Robert Armour | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Kilmarnock, Scotland |
| Died | April 16, 1857 (aged 75) Montreal, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, publisher |
| Years active | 1798–1850s |
| Known for | Founding Bank of Montreal, King's printer in Montreal, owner of Montreal Gazette |
Robert Armour (June 13, 1781 – April 16, 1857) was a prominent Canadian entrepreneur and publisher. Originally from Kilmarnock, Scotland, he relocated to Montreal in 1798. His early commercial ventures faltered due to the misappropriation of public funds. In 1816, he collaborated with fellow Montreal businessmen to establish the Bank of Montreal. He became the king's printer in 1827 and acquired ownership of the Montreal Gazette. After transferring his newspaper interests to his son's enterprise, he focused on managing several dry goods companies.
Early life and initial career
Born on June 13, 1781, in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Armour was the son of shoemaker Robert Armour and Jean Shaw.
Professional life
Upon arriving in Montreal in 1798, Armour engaged as an auctioneer and partner at Henderson, Armour and Company. By 1815, he was appointed warden of Trinity House, responsible for regulating navigation on the St. Lawrence River, and served in Montreal’s 1st Militia Battalion until 1821.
In 1816, he took on the role of commissioner for inland navigation improvements and became involved with the Quebec Steamboat Company.
Montreal commercial ventures
Armour encountered financial difficulties by 1816 when his merchandising enterprise collapsed amid allegations of misusing over £5,000 in public funds. That same year, he joined eight other businessmen to found the Bank of Montreal. Together with a partner, he operated a general store on St. Paul Street, which eventually entered receivership. The bank arranged to lease this property from the assignees. The resolution of Armour’s financial issues remains undocumented.
In 1818, Armour served as cashier for the failed Bank of Canada, which was absorbed by the Bank of Montreal in 1831. By 1820, his activities included selling insurance and dry goods while holding shares in the steamboat Car of Commerce, servicing the route between Montreal and Quebec City. Additionally, he was a director of the newly founded Montreal General Hospital.
Publishing endeavors
Armour was named king's printer for Montreal in 1827. Utilizing his late wife’s children’s inheritance that year, he purchased the Montreal Gazette, initially assigning ownership as security to his children in 1828 during loan repayment before regaining full control. The Gazette promoted Tory perspectives, emphasizing merchant grievances regarding the Constitutional Act 1791 and British immigration policies.
In 1828, Armour also published The Montreal almanack, or Lower Canada register and played a key role in establishing British North America’s inaugural Mechanics' institute. Partnering with his son Andrew Harvie in 1831, they formed Andrew H. Armour and Company. He lost his position as king's printer in 1832. The partnership dissolved in 1835 when Harvie created a new firm with his brother-in-law and acquired Armour’s stake in the Gazette.
Dry goods operations
Armour managed Robert Armour and Company, specializing in dry goods, and co-founded Armour, Whiteford and Company with William Whiteford in 1843. His leadership roles extended to directorships at Montreal Gas Light Company, Montreal Fire Assurance Company, City Bank of Montreal, and Montreal Provident and Savings Bank. That same year, he provided French-to-English translations for Canadian government documents. It is believed that he retired during the 1850s.
Personal life and death
In 1806, Armour wed Elizabeth Harvie, and together they raised five children.
He assumed the role of treasurer at St Gabriel Street Presbyterian Church in 1815 and was appointed as an elder four years later, in 1819. Following a division within the church in 1832, he collaborated with Edward Black to found St Paul's Church.
Armour passed away in Montreal on April 16, 1857.