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Joseph Bowles Learmont
See Joseph's biography in the History of Montreal pages 218 and 221.
From Who’s Who in Canada Joseph Bowles Learmont, merchantSon late Wm. and Eliza (Bowles) Learmont; b. and e. Montreal; m. 1st Amelia Jane (d. 1875), daug. late Hon. L. H. Holton, M. P., a prominent parliamentarian and statesman; 2ndly, Charlotte (prominently identified with the movement for providing playgrounds for children, a director City Improvement League, one of the promoters of the Royal Edward Institute and is V.-P. of the Montreal Tuberculosis Association, V.-P. Y.W.C.A., treasurer Nat’l. Council of Women, pres. Montreal Day Nursery, pres. local branch Needlework Guild, pres. and convener local branch Victorian Order of Nurses etc.; was one of a deputation, headed by the Countess of Aberdeen, who presented to Queen Mary an address of congratulation from 25,000 women of Canada upon her accession to the throne) daug. late Chas. F. Smithers, pres. Bank of Montreal; has run a successful career as a business man; at present is the senior member of the firm of Caverhill, Learmont & Co., wholesale hardware merchants, Montreal (est. 1854); noted for his literary tastes, and has frequently lectured on literary and historical subjects; an early member of Numismatic and Antiques Society; a collector of rare books and manuscripts, etchings, engravings, autograph letters, etc.; among other offices held by him are the following: member Committee of Management Montreal General Hospital; mem. Montreal Board of Trade (2 years a councilor); mem. Board and a governor Victorian Order of Nurses (Montreal Branch); director Charity Organization Society; mem. Executive committee Lord’s Day Alliance, treasurer Montreal Art Association and councilor and treasurer local branch of the Archaeological Institute of America; author of paper on “Folk-lore” including Canadian folk-lore, and of another paper on “The Canadian Indian”; a Cong. – 30 Macgregor St., Montreal; St. James Club; Mt. Royal Club; Montreal Club; City Club. “A man of deep knowledge on special subjects, and of exquisite taste.” – Dr. John Reade.
Owners of General Wolfe's Birthplace in Kent EnglandJoseph acquired Quebec House, the former residence of General Wolfe near Westerham, Kent, England, "to secure the property for the Canadian people" and "so that it may be open to visitors and free to all that are interested in Canada". Later His wife left the house to the National Trust in her will. http://www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housekent_queb.htm
Patrons of the ArtsThe biography of Leigh Kiplin, a society portrait painter in 1900’s Montreal includes references to his portrait of John Bowles Learmont who is described as "a pillar of the AAM (Art Association of Montreal) in 1907". This is an incorrect reference to Joseph Bowles Learmont and the biography includes a later reference to Kiplin's portrait of "Joseph Learmont, the prominent businessman". Joseph's role in support of the Montreal arts community is documented in his biography in the History of Montreal pages 218 and 221. ref: Kilpin and the Arts Milieu of Montreal (1906-1919) By Barbara Winters Their Historic Home The Montreal Directory of Urban History 2004 List of Homes of Historical Architectural Interest includes: Maison Joseph Bowles Learmont – 1564 avenue du Docteur-Penfield
From the biography of Edward Maxwell, architectThe relatively few business leaders who had not been born to wealth, like J. B. Learmont, owed their success in no small measure to their marriages. The Maxwell firm's work for the Bank of Montreal/CPR group was not limited to the companies associated with the group. There were also the important private houses that the brothers designed for capitalists who shared directly in the growth of the group, such as those for C. R. Hosmer and E W. Thompson, co-owners of Ogilvie Flour; James Crathern and J. B. Learmont of the hardware wholesale firm of Crathern & Caverhill, later known as Caverhill & Learmont; Obituaries09-30-1875 Amelia Jane Holton, daughter of the honorable L. H. Holton, and wife of Joseph B. Learmont, died in Montreal, at the residence of her father.
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