Wilfrid-Antoine-Raymond Masson (1819-1871)

He was born in Montreal and named Joseph-Wilfrid-Antoine-Raymond Masson, but was better known as Wilfrid Masson. In 1847, he married Anne, daughter of Lt.-Colonel Roderick Mackenzie, Seigneur de Terrebone, Quebec. In 1851, he completed his mansion - built by Pierre-Louis Morin who had just before completed his father's mansion at Terrebonne - on Dorchester Boulevard (now known as 2080 René-Lévesque Boulevard), but it was only given its French Second Empire mansard roof in the 1940s. Seven years later in 1858, Masson went with his wife and two children to Paris for the benefit of their education. Before leaving Montreal, he sold his house and the small piece of land he had reserved there as a burial place. He lived in Paris until 1868, during which time he made several visits to Montreal. In 1868, he moved with his family to England and bought 5 Langford Place, St. John's Wood, London, where he died. He was survived by both his children - his daughter remained in England and his son in Paris.