Macdonald Tobacco
Encyclopedia
The Macdonald Tobacco Company was founded in 1858 by William Christopher Macdonald
and his brother Augustine. Initially called McDonald Brothers and Co., the company procured tobacco leaf from suppliers in the southern United States that was converted to pipe and chewing tobacco at their small Montreal facility. While the use of tobacco products was growing in popularity, the American Civil War
afforded the fledgling company an opportunity that brought enormous financial success leading to Macdonald Brothers becoming the preeminent company in the field in Canada. Virtually all of the tobacco growers were located in U.S. states that were part of the Confederacy
and with the onset of the war, the northern states faced a huge shortage of tobacco leaf. Because Macdonald Tobacco was a Canadian company, they were able to buy the tobacco leaf from the Southern United States
and have it brought by ocean cargo vessels to Montreal. There, it was processed then the finished product was shipped to the tobacco-starved market in the northern United States.
At the end of the Civil War, the company continued to prosper and by the early 1870s had more than five hundred employees. During this period, William Macdonald bought out his brother's stock position.
Deeply proud of his Scottish
heritage, William C. Macdonald used the image of a Scottish Lass on the packaging of Macdonald tobacco products for nearly a century.
A lifelong bachelor who actually disliked tobacco, on his death in 1917 Macdonald bequeathed his company to Walter and Howard Stewart, the two sons of company manager David Stewart. Walter Stewart became president and under his guidance the company extended production to cut pipe tobacco and tobacco for "roll your own" cigarettes. In 1922, packaged cigarette production was added which quickly became the mainstay of the business. During the 1960s, David M. Stewart (1920–1984), expanded the business into the manufacturing of cigar
s.
The Macdonald Tobacco company remained in the Stewart family until 1974 when David M. Stewart sold it to the American tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
who, in light of the uncertainty created by the Quebec separatist movement
, relocated the head office to Toronto, Ontario.
William Christopher Macdonald
Sir William Christopher Macdonald was a Scots-Quebecer tobacco manufacturer and major education philanthropist in Canada.-Early life and career:...
and his brother Augustine. Initially called McDonald Brothers and Co., the company procured tobacco leaf from suppliers in the southern United States that was converted to pipe and chewing tobacco at their small Montreal facility. While the use of tobacco products was growing in popularity, the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
afforded the fledgling company an opportunity that brought enormous financial success leading to Macdonald Brothers becoming the preeminent company in the field in Canada. Virtually all of the tobacco growers were located in U.S. states that were part of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
and with the onset of the war, the northern states faced a huge shortage of tobacco leaf. Because Macdonald Tobacco was a Canadian company, they were able to buy the tobacco leaf from the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and have it brought by ocean cargo vessels to Montreal. There, it was processed then the finished product was shipped to the tobacco-starved market in the northern United States.
At the end of the Civil War, the company continued to prosper and by the early 1870s had more than five hundred employees. During this period, William Macdonald bought out his brother's stock position.
Deeply proud of his Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
heritage, William C. Macdonald used the image of a Scottish Lass on the packaging of Macdonald tobacco products for nearly a century.
A lifelong bachelor who actually disliked tobacco, on his death in 1917 Macdonald bequeathed his company to Walter and Howard Stewart, the two sons of company manager David Stewart. Walter Stewart became president and under his guidance the company extended production to cut pipe tobacco and tobacco for "roll your own" cigarettes. In 1922, packaged cigarette production was added which quickly became the mainstay of the business. During the 1960s, David M. Stewart (1920–1984), expanded the business into the manufacturing of cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s.
The Macdonald Tobacco company remained in the Stewart family until 1974 when David M. Stewart sold it to the American tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company , based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and founded by R. J. Reynolds in 1875, is the second-largest tobacco company in the U.S. . RJR is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc...
who, in light of the uncertainty created by the Quebec separatist movement
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
, relocated the head office to Toronto, Ontario.