Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

1867 TO 1901 97Darling, 1president of the Toronto Board of Trade, as beinga man of high character and financial ability, having a largeand varied experience of mercantile matters, who wouldrender good service to the bank.He also submitted the nameof another gentleman destined to become even more closelyidentified with the fortunes of The Canadian Bank ofCommerce, Mr. George A. Cox, 2 of Peterboro, who, theSenator said, was the architect of his own fortune and hadgiven abundant evidence of mercantile skill, and would thereforebe a great acquisition to the directorate. This prophecywas destined to be amply fulfilled. The late Colonel John I.Davidson, 3 a prominent Toronto merchant, was also addedto the Board, succeeding Mr. John Waldie, who now retired.Senator McMaster remained a director, and was succeeded aspresident by Mr. Darling.1Henry W. Darling (b. 1847) is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and came toCanada in 1862, entering the dry goods trade in Montreal.In 1884 he founded thefirm of Henry W. Darling and Company, Toronto, which a year or two later amalgamatedwith that of A. R. McMaster and Brother, as McMaster, Darling and Company.In 1879 he was appointed general manager of the English and Scottish InvestmentCompany. He served as president of the Toronto Board of Trade from 1883 to 1886.A few years later he removed to the United States, where he has for many years beentreasurer of the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N.Y. For his portrait, seeplate 12, facing page 94.'The Hon. George Albertus Cox (1840-1914) was born in Colborne, Ont.,and in early life entered the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company, becomingrepresentative for this and other companies in Peterboro. In 1878 he became presidentof the Midland Railway of Canada, then in financial difficulties, and conductedthe affairs of the company with such success that five years later he was able to sellthe line to the Grand Trunk Railway at a profit to his shareholders. He was associatedin an executive capacity with many corporations, including the Central Canada Loanand Savings Company, the Canada Life Assurance Company, the National TrustCompany and the Canadian General Electric Company, and was president of TheCanadian Bank of Commerce from 1890 to 1907. He was called to the Senate in 1896.For his portrait, see plate 12, facing page 94.John Irvine Davidson (1854-1910), son of Dr. Samuel Davidson, was bora inWartle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He came to Canada in his youth, and rose to besenior partner of the firm of Davidson and Hay, wholesale grocers, Toronto. Hewas president of the Toronto Board of Trade, 1890-91, and president of St. Andrew'sSociety, 1907-09.In 1891 he organized the 48th Highlanders, and was appointed tothe command of the regiment, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.