William Robertson pursued his education in the schools of St.
Andrews East and from his youth up was an underwriter, having
begun business when quite young by entering the insurance office
of Simpson & Bethune of Montreal. Such was the reputation which
he won for superior business qualifications, for executive power
and administrative ability, that in 1873, when but twenty-six
years of age he was elected as representative for Canada of the
London & Lancashire Life Assurance Company. The duties of this
office he filled most acceptably for about seventeen years,
or until his life’s labors were ended in death. He projected
many changes and improvements in the methods of the English
offices, transacting business on this side of the Atlantic. He
made thoroughly Canadian in spirit and activity, the London &
Lancashire Company in the Dominion, bringing about its popularity
and success. He carefully organized and systematized the business
here, with the result that the London & Lancashire Company became
one of the strongest insurance companies of the country.
In 1871 Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Helen I. Barnston, a
daughter of George Barnston, who throughout his active life was
engaged in the Hudson’s Bay service in British Columbia and in
the northwest country. He came to Canada in 1821 and retired,
after many years service with the Hudson’s Bay Company, spending
the remainder of his days in a well earned rest in Montreal. His
wife was Miss Helen Mathews of England. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson
became the parents of two children, who are living: Dr. William
Graeme Robertson of England, who is attached to the White Star
service; and Helen M. C., at home.
Mr. Robertson was active as a faithful member of St. James
Episcopal church, in which he served as warden and he also
belonged to the St. James Club. His keen sagacity enabled him to
recognize the different spirits of the business circles in the
old world and in the new, to adapt himself to changed conditions
and to work along lines of new world progress. Thus he became
a recognized leader in insurance circles occupying a prominent
position until 1889 when he went to Denver, Colorado, for his
health, there passing away on the 26th of February, of that year.
CHARLES P. HEBERT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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