Hartland Molson
A Canadian brewing magnate and senator who swapped boardrooms for bomber cockpits, serving with distinction in the Second World War.
1907–2002 (age 95)·Canadian politician·Birthday: May 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Hartland Molson carried the weight of a national dynasty, his name synonymous with Canada's oldest beer. Yet he carved a distinct path that blended commerce, public service, and daring military adventure. After Oxford and Harvard, he joined the family business but his life pivoted with the war. He became a pilot officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying dangerous missions over Europe with No. 1 Squadron. Returning to Montreal, he steered Molson's as president and later chairman, overseeing its expansion. His sense of duty extended to politics; appointed to the Senate in 1955, he served as a Progressive Conservative for over three decades, known for his thoughtful, business-minded approach. Molson was a paradox: a patrician who relished the camaraderie of the skies, a capitalist who believed in sober governance, forever balancing the inheritance of his name with his own substantial achievements.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Hartland was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hartland Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Hartland's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
2002Died at 95
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
Key Achievements
- Served as a Canadian Senator from Quebec for 38 years, from 1955 to 1993.
- Was President and later Chairman of the Molson Brewery company, guiding its post-war growth.
- Flew as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 1 Fighter Squadron during World War II.
- Was a key figure in establishing the Molson Family Foundation to support charitable causes.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled hockey player and played for the Oxford University ice hockey team.
Molson was part of the group that brought Major League Baseball's Expos to Montreal in 1969.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service as a fighter pilot in WWII.
The Hartland Molson Arena at McGill University is named in his honor.
“I flew Spitfires for freedom, and I served in the Senate for the same reason.”
