Introduction
William McMaster (December 24, 1811 – September 22, 1887) was a Canadian wholesaler, Senator and banker in the 19th century. A director of the Bank of Montreal from 1864 to 1867, he was a driving force behind the creation of the Canadian Bank of Commerce of which he served as the founding president from 1867 to his death in 1887.
He served in the Canadian Senate from 1867 to 1887 as a Liberal. He also helped found McMaster University in Toronto (later moved to Hamilton), Ontario.
Biography
Born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, McMaster immigrated to York, Upper Canada (now Toronto) in 1833. He was married for the first time to Mary Henderson (18??–1868). He married a second time to Susan Fraser (née Moulton)(from New York the widow of an American businessman) on July 18, 1871.
He died in 1887 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
Philanthropy
During his lifetime, McMaster supported a number of causes with large donations. As a member of Bond Street Baptist Church McMaster helped finance their building of larger facilities at Jarvis Street Baptist Church. He also helped finance Beverley Street Baptist Church, which is now Toronto Chinese Baptist Church and a number of other Baptist churches in the Toronto area as well as the building of Toronto Baptist College in McMaster Hall on Bloor Street. (Later it was renamed McMaster University funded by a large endowment upon his death). Through his wife, financing was also provided for the Hospital for Sick Children.