Sir Charles Blair Gordon, GBE (22 November 1867 – 30 July 1939) was a Canadian banker, manufacturer and diplomat.[1][2][3]

Charles Blair Gordon depicted on the first 1935 Bank of Montreal, 10 dollar note printed.
Charles Blair Gordon depicted on the first 1935 Bank of Montreal, 10 dollar note printed.

Life and career edit

Educated at the High School of Montreal, Gordon founded the Standard Shirt Company, organized Dominion Textile in 1904, and in 1909 became president of Dominion Glass Company Limited, which was later known as Domglas.[2] In 1913, he was appointed a director of the Bank of Montreal, and in 1927 became the bank's president.[2]

From 1918 to 1921, he was Acting Chairman (Canadian War Mission) to the United States of America in Washington.[2] In 1917, for his contributions, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1918 was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the order.[3]

In 1922, Ernest Hemingway described Gordon as “blonde, ruddy-faced and a little ill at ease”.[4]


Gordon was one of the founders of the Town of Hampstead, Quebec[5]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Acting Chairman (Canadian War Mission) to the United States of America
(pre-legation representation)

1918-1921
Succeeded by
Business positions
Preceded by President of the Bank of Montreal
1927-1939
Succeeded by

References edit

  1. ^ Tracy, Louis (1917). Who's Who in the British War Mission in the United States of America. E. J. Clode. p. 20.
  2. ^ a b c d Rider, Peter E. (2012). "Sir Charles Blair Gordon". Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Dominion. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b Who's Who in the British War Mission in the United States of America. E. J. Clode. 1918. pp. 41.
  4. ^ Hemingway, Ernest (April 24, 1922). By-Line: Ernest Hemingway. Selected Articles and Dispatches of Four Decades. Fawcett Publications, Inc. (published 1951). p. 32. ISBN 978-0-684-83905-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Town History, Town of Hampstead website

External links edit