Resting peacefully in Montreal’s Mount Royal Cemetery lies Hugh Graham. He wasn’t just any Montrealer. He was the first Baron Atholstan a newspaper magnate and a powerful force in Canadian politics.
Hugh Graham’s story is interwoven with the history of the Montreal Star a newspaper he helped found in 1869. It began as a penny paper a risky venture with less than $100 in capital. It focused on sensational news and scandals. This drew in readers from Montreal’s working class. It was a bold move in a city already brimming with seven dailies.
Graham’s business acumen was key to the Star’s success. He invested in new technology like Canada’s first web-offset press. This allowed for faster printing and wider distribution. He also published accurate circulation figures. This was unprecedented in his time. The Star’s success wasn’t limited to Montreal. Its weekly edition the Family Herald and Weekly Star had a huge national reach especially in rural areas.
Graham’s influence extended beyond the printed page. His newspaper championed social causes such as public health. The Star played a vital role during the smallpox epidemic of 1885-86. It promoted vaccination and informed the public. Graham even served on an expanded health board. The Star also fought against corruption and monopolies.
While the Star maintained a stance of independence Graham was a Conservative. He supported British interests. His newspaper’s pro-empire stance was influential. It played a significant role in Canada’s involvement in the Boer War. He even solicited messages from public figures across the country to bolster support for the war.
However Graham’s political involvement was often controversial. He was accused of manipulating elections and using his wealth to influence politicians. His attempt to acquire La Presse to undermine Prime Minister Laurier backfired. It was a plot discovered and foiled.
Despite setbacks the Montreal Star remained incredibly powerful. It influenced elections and even helped to defeat Prime Minister Laurier’s reciprocity agreement with the United States. It distributed a massive supplement against the agreement via Conservative newspapers across the country.
During World War I Graham’s support for conscription made him a target. His summer home was even dynamited by opponents. Despite his controversial tactics Graham was made a Baron.
In 1925 Hugh Graham sold the Montreal Star. He continued to exert control until his death in 1938. His legacy is a complex one. He built a media empire. His actions remain a point of discussion even today. But there is no doubt his imprint is on Montreal and Canadian history. Here in Mount Royal Cemetery we remember the man behind the Montreal Star.