Joseph Seagram

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Introduction

Joseph Emm Seagram (April 15, 1841 - August 18, 1919) was a founder of Canadian distillery Seagram's, a politician, and a major owner of thoroughbred racehorses. The Seagram Company Ltd. eventually became the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Noted brand names owned by Seagram included Chivas Regal, Crown Royal, and V.O. whiskeys.

History

Born in Cambridge, Ontario, Joseph was orphaned at an early age and for several years he lived at William Tassie's boarding school (now Galt Collegiate Institute and Vocational School) in Cambridge. He studied for a year at a business college in Buffalo, New York then returned to Canada where he worked as a bookkeeper at a grist mill. In 1857, Granite Mills and Waterloo Distillery was constructed by William Hespeler and George Randall. Joseph became a partner in 1869 and bought the business outright in 1883, renaming it the Joseph Seagram Flour Mill and Distillery Company. Initially the distillery was a small aside to the company's flour business, using surplus grain to make alcoholic beverages. Making whisky eventualy became the most important part of the business. His 1907 creation, Seagram's V.O. whisky, became the best-selling Canadian whisky in the world. In 1911, the distillery’s name was changed to Joseph E. Seagram and Sons Ltd., for his sons Edward, Thomas, Joseph and Norman.

Joseph Seagram served as a Waterloo town councilor from 1879 to 1886. In 1896, he was elected to the Canadian Parliament as the Conservative Party member for Waterloo North. He was acclaimed in the 1900 election and reelected in 1904, serving until September of 1908 when he chose not to seek another term.

Joseph Emm Seagram died in Waterloo in 1919. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Waterloo.

Horse Racing Enthusiast

The success of the distillery allowed Joseph to pursue his love of horse racing. In 1860, at the age of 19, he had purchased a half share in a racehorse in Galt. Eventually, Joseph founded the 200-acre Seagram Stables in 1888, building bloodlines by importing mares from English sires. Between 1891 and 1898, his stables won eight consecutive Queen's Plates, Canada's most prestigious horse racing event and North America's oldest thoroughbred horse race. In total, during his lifetime Joseph Seagram won the race fifteen times. His heirs who took over the stable won it another five times. Joseph Seagram also served as president of the Ontario Jockey Club from 1906 to 1917 and in 1908 helped found the Canadian Racing Association.

Philanthropy

  • In 1896, Joseph donated a fourteen acre site for what is now the Grand River Hospital.
  • Founding member of the Waterloo branch of the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis

External Links

References

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