His early education was acquired at Morgate Academy, in his native town, where his proficiency in mental arithmetic placed him at the head of the school when yet a mere boy. His school days over, he entered into active connection with financial interests as an employe of the Sheffield Banking Company. He remained in Great Britain until 1854, when he came to Canada, having accepted the position of financial manager of a firm of railway contractors. Two years later he became accountant at the head office in the newly organized Bank of Toronto. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He advanced from one position to another which brought upon him larger responsibilities and duties, each, however, finding him adequate to the demands made upon him. He was appointed manager of the Bank of Toronto at Cobourg, Ontario, and in 1863 succeeded the late Mr. Angus Cameron as cashier of the bank, in which capacity he remained until 1876. It was during this period that Mr. Hague’s influence was felt in some of the most important legislation affecting banking interests in Canada. The government had brought in two measures in succession, for the regulation of the currency. To the first, some of the western bankers were inclined to agree, but Mr. Hague conceived its operation would be prejudicial to the interests of a bank like the Bank of Toronto, and the finance minister was prevailed on to make it optional instead of compulsory. Only one bank consented to embrace its provisions, and, for some years, matters went along undisturbed. The second measure was far more dangerous, and was wholly compulsory. It was founded on the American currency plan, which was then at the zenith of its popularity, and had not yet developed any of the unfavorable features which afterwards transpired. This Canadian government measure, many bankers, particularly from Ontario and Nova Scotia, concluded would be utterly unsuitable to the circumstances of Canada, and they determined to give it strenuous opposition. Mr. Hague was appointed secretary of an informal association for the purpose, and the contest was maintained through two or three sessions of parliament. There were powerful influences at the back of the government in favor of the measure and the contest was a very determined one. At length when Sir Francis Hincks had been appointed finance minister, a satisfactory compromise was proposed, accepted, and its provisions incorporated in the Dominion note act, and the Canadian bank act, which both shortly followed. [Illustration: GEORGE HAGUE]