A Scot Going Places

Ayrshire lad Hugh Allan built a transport and finance empire in his adopted home of Montreal, and survived a political scandal

- KENNY MacASKILL

MANY Scots sailed across the sea to Canada, but only one Scot managed a shipping line which then brought millions more. Not just those leaving Scotland for a new life, but also from elsewhere in Britain, Ireland and beyond.

This is the story of Hugh Allan, shipping magnate, financier and all-round business mogul who would become embroiled in a major Canadian railway scandal which brought down a government.

Born into a seafaring family in Saltcoats, Ayrshire in 1810, it's suggested that his father was a cousin of Robert Burns. The family was well-to-do but Hugh would take the wealth to unparalleled levels.

He was educated locally in the parish school before commencing work for his father, Alexander Allan, at the family's business premises in Greenock in 1823. His father had established the Allan Shipping Line several years before, but was also involved in more general trade.

In 1826, Hugh embarked for Montreal. It was the city he would make his home, where he would become a major business tycoon. Although assisted by family finance, he achieved his success by working his way up, and increased the investment exponentially.

Initially working for a grain merchant known to his father, he then took a year out to return to Scotland and travel there before returning through London, New York and Upper Canada.

By 1831 Hugh had returned to Montreal and started work for a major merchandising firm with significant shipping interests.

His rise there was meteoric, as by 1839 he had become the senior partner and was joined by his younger brother, Andrew. The business had by then the largest shipping capacity in the city. And it was only going to grow from there.