John Kinder Labatt

Born in Ireland, John Kinder Labatt came to Canada in 1834 and began farming near London. In 1847 he acquired an interest in the London brewery of Samuel Eccles, which had been established by John Balkwill in 1827-28. On Eccles’ retirement in 1854, Labatt became the sole owner of the brewery which, under his son and grandson, became one of Canada’s largest. John Labatt was also active in the establishment of London’s early financial institutions and a promoter of local road and rail transportation.

Né en Irlande, John Kinder Labatt immigra au Canada en 1834 et se fit fermier près de London. En 1847, il acquit des intérêts dans la brasserie de Samuel Eccles, que John Balkwill avait fondée en 1827-28. En 1854, à la retraite d’Eccles, il devint l’unique propriétaire de la brasserie qui sera plus tard, sous la direction de ses descendants, une des plus grandes du pays. Labatt participa aussi à la fondation des premières institutions financières de London et à l’établissement d’un système de transport routier et ferroviaire dans la région.