Eaton family
Encyclopedia
The Eaton family of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, were owners of the Eaton's
department store
s, a national chain that was founded in 1869, and became bankrupt in 1999. At the family's height, their net worth was around $2 billion. Today, after the store's demise, "The Boys"—John, Fred, Thor and George—are collectively worth around $450 million.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
and author Rod McQueen has dubbed them as "Canada's royal family", with the CBC describing the Eatons as "homegrown aristocracy" which drew comparisons to the influential Kennedy family
. The Eatons were well known for their lavish lifestyle and generous philanthropy. Today, they and their wives and children continue to hold prominent positions in Toronto's society circles.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, were owners of the Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s, a national chain that was founded in 1869, and became bankrupt in 1999. At the family's height, their net worth was around $2 billion. Today, after the store's demise, "The Boys"—John, Fred, Thor and George—are collectively worth around $450 million.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and author Rod McQueen has dubbed them as "Canada's royal family", with the CBC describing the Eatons as "homegrown aristocracy" which drew comparisons to the influential Kennedy family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
. The Eatons were well known for their lavish lifestyle and generous philanthropy. Today, they and their wives and children continue to hold prominent positions in Toronto's society circles.
- Timothy EatonTimothy EatonTimothy Eaton was a Canadian businessman who founded the Eaton's department store, one of the most important retail businesses in Canada's history.-Early life and family:...
(1834 – January 31, 1907), who immigrated to Canada from BallymenaBallymenaBallymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, founded the store.- Sir John Craig Eaton (28 April 1876 – 30 March 1922), Timothy's youngest son, took over after his father died.
- Flora McCrea Eaton, Lady EatonFlora EatonFlora McCrea Eaton, Lady Eaton was the wife of Toronto department store president and heir Sir John Craig Eaton.- Life and career :...
(1880–1970), Sir John's wife, was a national icon.- John David EatonJohn David EatonFor other people named John Eaton, see John Eaton ."John David Eaton was the second son of Sir John Craig Eaton and Lady Eaton of Toronto....
(4 October 1909 – 4 August 1973), Sir John and Lady Flora Eaton's son, took over the company when he turned 33.- Signy Hildur Stefansson Eaton (1913–1992), wife of John David.
- John Craig EatonJohn Craig Eaton (Chancellor Ryerson University)John Craig Eaton , philanthropist, is a former Canadian businessman and the great-grandson of Timothy Eaton, founder of the well-known Eaton's department store. He is married to his third wife, Sally Horsfall Eaton, a philanthropist and former registered nurse.Mr...
(1937-), John David and Signy's eldest son. - Fredrik Stefan EatonFredrik Stefan EatonFredrik Stefan Eaton, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian businessman, diplomat and the great-grandson of Eaton's department store founder Timothy Eaton....
(1938-), John David and Signy's second son, president of the company from 1977–1988, High CommissionerHigh CommissionerHigh Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1988–1994.- son Fredrik D'Arcy Eaton
- daughter Flora Catherine Eaton Coakley
- John Craig Eaton
- Signy Hildur Stefansson Eaton (1913–1992), wife of John David.
- Timothy Craig Eaton (1903–1986), son of Sir John and Flora; never entered the family business
- Thor Edgar Eaton (1943-), Third son of John David and Signy, horse-breeder.
- George Ross Eaton (November 12, 1945-), Youngest son of John David and Signy, president of the company from 1988–1997.
- Nicole Courtois EatonNicole EatonNicole Marie Eaton is a Canadian politician and a Conservative member of the Canadian Senate. She is the daughter of Edmond Jacques Courtois and sister of Canada Post Chairman Marc Courtois. She was appointed on the advice of Stephen Harper to the Senate on December 22, 2008, her term starting on...
, wife of Thor, socialiteSocialiteA socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
, author, Canadian Senator.
- Nicole Courtois Eaton
- John David Eaton
- Flora McCrea Eaton, Lady Eaton
- Sir John Craig Eaton (28 April 1876 – 30 March 1922), Timothy's youngest son, took over after his father died.
- Nancy EatonNancy EatonNancy Alice Edward Eaton was a Canadian heiress, the great-great-granddaughter of Timothy Eaton, founder of Eaton's department stores. She was the only daughter of Edward Eaton and Nancy Leigh Gossage Eaton of Toronto....
(May 28, 1961 – January 21, 1985), great-great-granddaughter of Timothy, murdered in 1985. - Edward Eaton and Nancy Leigh Gossage Eaton - parents of Nancy Eaton
- Robert Young EatonRobert Young EatonRobert Young Eaton was the nephew of Eaton's department store founder Timothy Eaton.Eaton was born in 1875 to John and Margaret Eaton and related to the department store founder as they shared the same grandfather John Eaton Sr .R.Y...
(1875–1956), Timothy's nephew, took over the company on the death of Sir John.- Hazel Eaton (nee Ireland) - wife of RY Eaton
- John Wallace Eaton (1912–1990) also worked at Eaton's and ran the Montreal store
- Erskine Robert Eaton (1915–1942) died in World War II in Dieppe Raid
- Hazel Eaton (nee Ireland) - wife of RY Eaton
- John EatonJohn EatonJohn Henry Eaton was an American politician and diplomat from Tennessee who served as U.S. Senator and as Secretary of War in the administration of Andrew Jackson. He was the youngest U.S. Senator in history, having been 28 years old at the time of his swearing-in.-Biography:Eaton was born near...
- brother of Timothy and father of RY Eaton - Margaret Eaton (nee Herbison) wife of John Eaton and mother of RY Eaton
- John Eaton Sr (1784–1834) - grandfather of Timothy and John
- Billy BishopBilly BishopAir Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
(8 February 1894 – 11 September 1956), First World War flying ace, married a granddaughter of Timothy, Margaret Burden.