Henry Beatty

Henry Beatty, businessman, pioneer transportation official (b at Cootehill, Ire 1 May 1834; d at Toronto 10 Apr 1914). Beatty immigrated with his parents to Thorold, Canada W, when he was 9. In 1857, apprenticing in the hardware business, he travelled widely and, seeking adventure, struck gold in the Cariboo. In 1870 he became a partner in his uncle's steamship firm. Under Beatty's management the firm expanded from 1 to 5 steamships and extended its operations from Sarnia to Port Arthur, Ontario, and Duluth, Minnesota.

In 1882 he was appointed manager of lake transportation for the Canadian Pacific Railway. One of his first duties was to supervise construction in Scotland of 3 vessels that became the nucleus of CPR Steamships. A man of unusual executive ability and vision, he served as marine adviser to the CPR after his retirement (1892).