The Eaton family is a Canadian family of Scottish-Irish Methodist origin. Established in Toronto, the family dynasty began in 1869 when Timothy Eaton (1834–1907) founded Eaton's, which became a national chain of department stores. At its height, the family's net worth was around $2 billion. Although the Eaton's department store chain went bankrupt in 1999, the family still holds considerable wealth.
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The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and author Rod McQueen have dubbed them as "Canada's royal family",[1] with the CBC describing the Eatons as "homegrown aristocracy", which drew comparisons to the influential Kennedy family.[2] The Eatons were well known for their lavish lifestyle and occasional philanthropy.
Notable family members
edit- John Eaton (1784–1834), m. Margaret Craig (1796–1848)
- Robert Eaton (1816–1893)
- Eliza Jane Eaton (1819–1861)
- Mary Anne Eaton (1821–1841)
- Margaret Eaton (1824–1900)
- John Eaton (1827–1895), m. Margaret Herbison (1833–1907)
- William Herbison Eaton (1873–)
- (3) Robert Young Eaton (1875–1956),[3] m. Hazel Ireland (1889–1965)
- Margaret Craig Eaton (1912—1988),[4][5] m. John Hubert Dunn (1897–)
- John Wallace Eaton (1912–1990)[6] (twin brother of Margaret), m. Phyllis Finlayson (1915–1997)
- Edith Elisabeth Nora Eaton (1913–2010),[7] m. Paul Robert van der Stricht (1908–2004)[8]
- Erskine Robert Eaton (1915–1942) (died in Dieppe Raid)
- Alan Young Eaton (1916–2000), m. Diana Fishleigh
- Nancy Eaton (1829–)
- Sarah Eaton (1831–)
- James Eaton (1832–1904)
- (1) Timothy Eaton (1834–1907),[9] m. Margaret Wilson Beattie (1841–1933)
- Josephine Smyth Eaton (1865–1943), m. Thomas David Meldrum Burnside (1835–1900)
- Iris Margaret Burnside (1894–1915) (died on the RMS Lusitania)
- Allan Eaton Meldrum Burnside (1898–1937)
- Margaret Elizabeth Beattie Eaton (1867–1952), m. Charles Eldridge Burden (1863)
- Margaret Beattie Eaton Burden (1898–), m. Billy Bishop (1894–1956)
- Henry John Burden (1894–1960)
- Edward Young Eaton (1871–1900), m. Tillie Robinson (1869–1895)
- Marjorie Tillie Eaton (1892–1952), m. Harold Simcoe Coulson (1884–1936)
- Alice Eaton (1894–), m. Edward Browse
- Edward Eaton, m. Nancy Leigh Gossage (1926–2007)[10]
- Nancy Alice Edward Eaton (1961–1985) (murdered)
- Edward Eaton, m. Nancy Leigh Gossage (1926–2007)[10]
- William Fletcher Eaton (1875–1935),[11] m. Gertrude Nora Cook (1877–)
- Josephine Norah Eaton (1900–), m. George Edward Leishman (1897–)
- Noel Beattie Eaton (1910–1996), m. Julia Isabell Fleming (1912–1989)
- (2) Sir John Craig Eaton (1876–1922),[12] m. Flora McCrea (1879–1970), formally known as Lady Eaton
- Timothy Craig Eaton (1903–1986)[citation needed]
- (4) John David Eaton (1909–1973),[13] m. Signy Hildur Stefansson (1913–1992)
- John Craig Eaton II (1937–), m. Catherine Farr
- John David Eaton (1961–)
- Signy Eaton (1962–)
- Henry Craig Eaton (1963–)
- (5) Fredrik Stefan Eaton (1938–2021),[14] m. Catherine Martin (1940-2023)
- Fredrik D'Arcy Eaton
- Fredrik Gordon Eaton (2007–)
- William D'Arcy Neil Eaton (2008–)
- Flora Catherine Eaton Coakley
- Fredrik D'Arcy Eaton
- Thor Edgar Eaton (1942–2017),[15][16] m. Nicole Courtois (1945–)
- Thor Eaton
- Cleophée Eaton
- (6) George Ross Eaton (1945–)[15][17]
- John Craig Eaton II (1937–), m. Catherine Farr
- Edgar Allison Eaton (1912–1988), m. Mildred Jarvis Page (1915–1968)
- Gilbert McCrea Eaton (1915–1985), m. Marjorie Ann Maston (1913–1988)
- Florence Mary Eaton (1919–2012),[18][19] m. Frank Flavelle McEachren (1918–1995)
- Evlyn Beatrice Eaton (1919?–1989) (adopted), m. Russell Payton (1915–1976)
- Josephine Smyth Eaton (1865–1943), m. Thomas David Meldrum Burnside (1835–1900)
- Notes
- Not exhaustive – listing is generally restricted to siblings of Timothy Eaton, his children, their spouses, and significant descendants.
- (#) – order of succession as the head of Eaton's.
Eaton properties and monuments
edit-
Ardwold, Toronto (1910)
-
Eaton Hall, King Township (1940)
-
Eaton Mausoleum, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto (1924)
-
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto (1910s)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Rod McQueen (1998). The Eatons: The rise and fall of Canada's royal family. Toronto: Stoddart. pp. 320. ISBN 0-7737-3120-2.
- ^ "Eaton's: Canadian royalty". CBC Digital Archives.
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1922–1942
- ^ (Director-General, Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1944–1945) Barbara Dundas and Dr. Serge Durflinger. "The Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1941-1946". Canadian War Museum. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ Henry B. M. Best (2003). Margaret and Charley: The Personal Story of Dr. Charles Best, the Co-Discoverer of Insulin. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 260. ISBN 1-55002-399-3.
- ^ worked at Eaton's; managed Montreal store
- ^ "van der Stricht, Edith Elisabeth Nora Eaton". The Globe and Mail. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ "Paul Robert van der Stricht". The New York Times. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1870–1907
- ^ "EATON, Nancy Leigh (Snubby) (nee Gossage)". The Globe and Mail. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ worked at Eaton's; managed textile manufacturing plant (Oshawa 1903–1916)
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1907–1922
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1942–1973
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1977–1988; High Commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom, 1991–1994
- ^ a b promoter of the Festival Express in 1970, as depicted in the 2003 film.
- ^ Langan, Fred (April 20, 2017). "Eaton's department store heir Thor Eaton loved horses and rock music". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ President of Eaton's, 1988–1997
- ^ "McEACHREN, Florence Mary (nee Eaton)". The Globe and Mail. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ Rod McQueen (27 April 2012). "Florence Mary Eaton McEachren 1919-2012". Retrieved 11 February 2013.
Further reading
edit- Joy L. Santink (1994). "Eaton, Timothy". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIII (1901–1910) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- Joy L. Santink (2005). "Eaton, Sir John Craig". In Cook, Ramsay; Bélanger, Réal (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XV (1921–1930) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
External links
edit- Ardwold mansion, Toronto – lostrivers.ca