Sir Henry Mill Pellatt (Henry Mill Pellatt)

Sir Henry Mill Pellatt

Canadian Financier and Soldier. He is perhaps best known for his role in bringing hydro-electricity to Toronto, Ontario for the first time, and also for his famous château, called Casa Loma, in Toronto, which was the largest private residence ever constructed in Canada. Casa Loma would eventually become a famous landmark of the city. His summer home and farm in King City later became Mary Lake Augustinian Monastery. Sir Henry was also a noted supporter of the Boy Scouts of Canada. His wife Lady Mary Pellatt was the first Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides of Canada. In 1910, Sir Henry took the entire 600 man regiment (including its horses) to England for military training at his expense to mark the Regiment’s 50th anniversary. The military exercises lasted from 13 August to 3 October. Much of Pellatt’s fortune was made through investments in the hydro electricity and railway industries in Canada. The strain of maintaining his large castle led him to ill-advised real estate investments which were unsuccessful. The Province expropriated his electrical power generating business, and his aircraft manufacturing business was later taken over as part of the war effort during World War I. Combined, these difficulties led to his near bankruptcy and forced him and Lady Pellatt to leave Casa Loma. Sir Henry Pellatt, virtually penniless, spent his final days at his chauffeur’s home in the Toronto suburb of Mimico where he died. Pellatt was promoted to the rank of Major-General upon his retirement from The Queen’s Own Rifles regiment and made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1910. When he died on March 8, 1939, thousands lined Toronto streets to witness his funeral procession. He was buried with full military honours. (bio courtesy of: Wikipedia)  Family links:  Spouse:  Mary Dodgson Pellatt (1857 – 1924)* *Calculated relationship

Born

  • January, 06, 1859

Died

  • March, 03, 1939

Cemetery

  • Forest Lawn Mausoleum
  • Ontario
  • Canada

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