George Auldjo (1790-1846)
George Auldjo, J.P., Merchant, of Maitland, Garden & Auldjo, Montreal
He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. After his education at Aberdeen Grammar School, he came out to Montreal join his uncle's (Alexander Auldjo's) mercantile firm. After his uncle died in 1821, he was appointed a Director of the Bank of Montreal and the firm was reorganised as Maitland, Garden & Auldjo, one of the city's most prominent import-export firms and the leading financier of ships built for the British market. However, by 1826 the British economy had tightened and demand for ships had massively decreased. Despite assets of £242,642, the firm was forced into receivership. Auldjo's reputation in the community was unaffected, retaining his commissions. He was a life Governor of the Montreal General Hospital; Warden of Trinity House; Commissioner for the Lachine Canal; and Inspector of Ashes for export. His personal finances were improved after his wife died in 1837 and he inherited her extensive real estate holdings. Nonetheless, by the time of his death he was reduced to living in a déclassé hotel on Rue Saint-Paul. His wife, Helen (married in 1816) was the daughter of one of Montreal's most distinguished public men, John Richardson, whose sister, Eweretta (Helen's aunt), was married to his uncle, Alexander. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters.