Draft:Robert Stapleton Pitt Caldecott

Robert Stapleton Pitt Caldecott(KAWL-dǝ-kot; 15 September 1836 - 17 April 1907) was a British/Canadian turn of the century  Industrialist, Philanthropist, immigrant and board/committee member of multiple organizations and associations. He was born in Cheshire England to an upper-class merchant family, his first cousin was Randolph Caldecott of the Caldecott Medala recognized Royal Academy of Arts artist and illustrator; who influenced 19th Century children’s book illustrations. Stapleton’s success came from Dry Goods; after immigrating to Montreal, Quebec,Canada in 1858;  where he began his career at James Claxton & Co. and then became partner to the now Thompson, Claxton & Co. and becoming the Western Canada Purchaser. In 1879 he relocated to Toronto, Ontario Canada to become a co-founder to Caldecott, Burton & Co. a Dry Goods Service that held offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa. While in Montreal and Toronto, Stapleton used his many resources to contribute to multiple associations/committees or institutions; such as co-funding the Montreal Literary Association; Vice-president of the YMCA in Montreal; chairman of the Free Trade League of Canada; Director of Bishop Ridley College (Ontario) in St. Catharines; Director/co-founder/co-financier of Havergal College; an all-girls school for kindergarten to grade 12; having also helped to select Ellen Mary Knox, the first principal of Havergal whose reputation is everlasting and still recognized by today's staff and students. Stapleton was a man of God being a member of the Church of England his contributions were also widely recognized and well received. His most treasured part of his life was his family, he was married to Emma Mary Arnold, a famous singer from Montreal. They had 3 children that survived to adulthood; Fredrick, Walter and Isabel. He was a veteran of the 1867 Fenian Raids; a soldier of the Militia against the Fenian attacks at Victoria Bridge, receiving the Canada General Service Medal.He was a Liberal and was going to run in 1904 in North Toronto, he was the front runner and convention favourite. He became ill and had to resign from that particular goal. With his many editorials and articles in the The Globe (Toronto newspaper) (today known as The Globe and Mail), show that every move he made would only ever benefit Canadians in his present but also the Canadians of his future.

Stapleton Caldecott

Early Years

Robert Stapleton Pitt Caldecott was born on September 15, 1836, in Chester, England to parents; Robert Caldecott, a member of the Cheshire family and a merchant, and Elizabeth Caldecott nee Pitt; hailing from the Pitt Family.

He attended Chorlton Hall in Manchester under Dr. Isaac Gregory, graduated in 1850.        

He started his career as an apprentice at Grucock, Copestake & Moore in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and London, which was a lace house.

After an offer for new employment, he immigrated to Canada and settled in Montreal, Quebec in 1858.

Montreal Years

After leaving England, Stapleton moved to Montreal, Quebec in 1858, the offer of employment was for James Claxton & Co. a Dry Goods Service. He worked with them until he was made Partner and Western Canada Purchaser, in 1866.

Caldecott entered into the Militia and was a veteran of the Fenian Raid, he received a ‘ Canada General Service Medal’ for his service at Victoria Bridge.

While in Montreal, Caldecott met Emma Mary Arnold in 1867, she was the daughter of Hezekiah Arnold; the first principal of the British School System in Montreal. Emma or Emily was a famous Montreal singer who spoke English, French, German and Italian. Caldecott and Arnold were married in Montreal in 1867. They had 5 children; Frederick Caldecott ( born February 12, 1870), Arthur Caldecott (born August 25, 1871), Isabel Caldecott ( born September 1873), Walter Caldecott (born December 1, 1875) and Harold Caldecott (born November 30, 1883). Three of their children lived until adulthood but unfortunately two had died within the first few weeks of their life; Arthur and Harold.

Caldecott was active in the community; he co-founded the ‘Montreal Literary Association', was President of the ‘Mercantile Library’, co-founder/director of the Montreal ‘Commercial Travelers Association’ and member of the ‘Young Men’s Christian Association’ (YMCA), later becoming Vice- President.

In 1879 Caldecott left Montreal in pursuit of his own venture, and settled in Toronto, Ontario to establish his own Dry Goods Service called ‘ Caldecott, Burton & Spence’.

Toronto Years

In 1879 Stapleton Caldecott started his Dry Goods Service with partners P.H. Burton, Spence and Harris held offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, and later Victoria, British Columbia, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Vancouver, British Columbia. He worked until 1897 where he retired from the company. Not able to stay retired, Caldecott accepted an offer from Debenhams in London, England and he formed the ‘Debenhams, Caldecott & Company’. He served as Managing Director and Representative of Canada until his death in 1907.

While in Toronto Caldecott again became active in his community serving on boards, committees, associations and institutions;

Member of the Toronto Board of Trade‘ and President in 1895;

Chairman of the ‘Dry Goods Section’ 1891- 1899;

Member, Director, Trustee, Vice President and President of the ‘ Young Men’s Christian Association’ YMCA of Toronto, early 1880s - 1889;

Chairman for both the ‘Young Woman’s Christian Association’ YWCA and the ‘Young woman’s Christian Guild’;

Director of ‘Commercial Traveller’s Association’ of Toronto;

Director of ‘Toronto Coffee House Association;

Director of ‘Toronto Sanatorium Association’;

School Trustee and Treasurer of Wycliffe College;

Director of Bishop Ridley College, in St. Catherines;

Director, Co-founder, Co-financier of Havergal College and helped to appoint Ellen Mary Knox as first Principal;

President of the Sault Ste. Marie & Hudson’s Bay Railway;

Member of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.

In 1905 he was offered to represent the Liberal Party in North Toronto after being a convention favourite, but due to health concerns he was advised to step down.

Caldecott Commissioned a house to be built at 64 Woodlawn ave. in Toronto. Eden Smith was the architect, a well known Toronto-based architect. Caldecott lived there only a few short months before he died in 1907.

Stapleton Caldecott with Other Past Presidents of the Y.M.C.A Toronto

Editorials

Caldecott was a passionate Canadian who frequently expressed his views in a Toronto newspaper, The Globe (1844-1936), today known as The Globe and Mail.

^{"I confess I am loyal both to the Empire and to Canada, and after thirty years' residence in the country fail to see any good reason for desiring Commercial Union with the United States, which involves discrimination against Britain." -Stapleton Caldecott,'Mr.Caldecott Replies', The Globe; Aug 11, 1887,Pg.4}
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In this editorial Caldecott talks about his belief in economic prosperity achieved through trade; it was his life's work. His real concern was maintaining preference of trade within the British Empire and not the United States.

^{"the congregations, composed of all sorts and conditions of people, white and colored, worshipping together the one God, who made from one blood all the races that inhabit the world." - Stapleton Caldecott,'Trade with Bermudas', The Globe; Aug 19, 1900, pg.23}
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In this editorial Caldecott talks about a trip to Bermuda that he recently took. He praised the country and the Sunday Services where he progressively put that they were all "one blood". He talked about how their trade was only a small part of their economy and he saw that tourism is where they were succeeding the most in. He wished that the flour came from Canada and not the United States, due to the flour souring before arriving to Bermuda,so he put forth an idea for the millers of Canada to come up with a solution for better flour that would trade from Canada instead of United States.

^{"the teaming millions of over-populated Europe to our Western Prairies, now only wanting the hand of man to blossom as the Rose and sustain a mighty population of industrious and prosperous people." -Stapleton Caldecott, 'Our Condition to Fiscal Slavery', The Globe; Feb 20, 1888, pg.4}
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In this editorial Caldecott talks of solutions, one being the over populated Europe and the solution of bringing said settlers to the western Prairies of Canada, where work and land were plenty.

^{"Any school teaching distinctive church doctrines, either Roman Catholic or Protestant, cannot receive State money. Hence all Public Schools maintained by the State must be national only." -Stapleton Caldecott,'The School Question', The Globe; Apr 10, 1895, pg.6}
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The opinion of Caldecott in this editorial is about how Church and State should separate when talking about funding from the State. He believed that only National secular schools should get funding from the Government. He also made it clear that this is his opinion and should not infringe on Provincial rights.

Death

Robert Stapleton Pitt Caldecott died on April 17, 1907, while  attending a business meeting at 'The King Edward Hotel' on King street Stapleton fell ill and left for home. Later that day he died. It was later concluded he died of Uric poisoning.

Obituary from "The Toronto World" April 19 1907