Clement George McCullagh (March 16, 1905 – August 5, 1952) was an influential Canadian newspaper owner between 1936 and 1952. He created ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' by merging the Liberal-allied '' Globe'' and Conservative-allied '' Mail and Empire'' newspapers in 1936. He was also actively involved in Canadian politics and later owned the '' Toronto Telegram'' newspaper.

Early life

McCullagh was born to Anne Catherine McCullagh, a housewife, and George H. McCullagh, a local cabinet maker, in London, Ontario, on March 16, 1905. As a youth, he delivered the ''Globe'' newspaper to local homes and built a reputation for sales within the newspaper's circulation department.Ken W. MacTaggart. "George McCullagh Dies" ''

''. August 6, 1952, p3. He dropped out of school with only a

ninth grade Ninth grade, freshman year, or grade 9 is the ninth year of school education in some school systems. Ninth grade is often the first school year of secondary school, high school in the United States, or the last year of middle school#United States ...

education. The ''Globe'' rejected his request to be a junior reporter; instead employing him as a subscription agent in London at age 16. He quickly earned several promotions, moved to Toronto and finally shifted into the editorial department. He was the assistant financial editor with a specialization in northern mining development by age 22.

Financial career

He left the ''Globe'' to become a floor man at the Toronto Stock Exchange for Milner, Ross and Co. and specialized in oil, mining and gold share sales. He later partnered with Richard Barrett to establish the firm Barrett, McCullagh and Co. By age 30, he was estimated to be worth more than a million dollars.

''The Globe and Mail''

McCullagh purchased the ''Globe'' for $1.3 million and ''Mail and Empire'' for $2.5 million in 1936. The first publication of the ''Globe and Mail'' was distributed in Toronto on November 23, 1936. McCullagh named himself the publisher. The Ontario Liberal Party, including Premier Mitchell Hepburn, believed ''The Globe and Mail'' would be a strong ally. McCullagh had served as a principal adviser to Hepburn's successful 1934 election bid and, in 1936, Hepburn appointed McCullagh to the Board of Governors of the University of Toronto. Editorials and articles in the first editions were supportive of the provincial government, but within a year, McCullagh became discontented and pushed the Ontario Conservative and Liberal parties to form a

coalition government A coalition government is a form of government in which political parties cooperate to form a government. The usual reason for such an arrangement is that no single party has achieved an absolute majority after an election, an atypical outcome in ...

. Hepburn proposed the option to the Conservatives but, after leader Earl Rowe accepted, they refused. McCullagh launched a series of radio broadcasts in 1939 to promote his nonpartisan vision for Canadian politics. The series led to the creation of the

Leadership League Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets v ...

, an early concept lobby group for stronger and smaller government and a one party system directed by business interests—a concept criticized as "

fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...

" by opponents such as the ''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

''. The league achieved an estimated 101,900 ballots for membership but was underfunded and disorganized. McCullagh folded it within a year. McCullagh later supported the Ontario Conservative Party] and its leader

George A. Drew George Alexander Drew (May 7, 1894 – January 4, 1973) was a Canadian politician. He served as the 14th premier of Ontario from 1943 to 1948 and founded a Progressive Conservative dynasty that would last 42 years. He later served as leade ...

''Toronto Telegram''

In 1946, at age 43, McCullagh bought the 72-year-old '' Toronto Telegram'' for $3.6 million."Founder John Ross Robertson made the Telegram explosive force in life of Toronto", Ralph Hyman, ''The Globe and Mail'', September 20, 1971, p. 8. The purchase gave him control of two of the three big daily newspapers in Toronto with a daily circulation of 414,515.

Thoroughbred racing

George McCullagh owned and raced Thoroughbred racehorses. In 1939 his colt Archworth won Canada's most prestigious race, the

King's Plate The King's Plate (known as the Queen's Plate between 1860 to 1901 and 1952 to 2022) is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race, having been founded in 1860. It is also the oldest continuously run race in North America. It is run at a distance of ...

. The event was also noteworthy for the attendance of

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

and

Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to: Queens regnant * Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland * Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022 ...

Death

McCullagh died on August 5, 1952, at the age of 47, committing suicideRichard James Doyle. ''Hurly-burly: A Time at the Globe and Mail''. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada. 1990. following a lengthy illness that included three heart attacks.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCullagh, George 1905 births 1952 deaths People from London, Ontario 20th-century Canadian newspaper publishers (people) The Globe and Mail founders Canadian racehorse owners and breeders 1952 suicides The Globe and Mail editors Suicides in Canada Owners of King's Plate winners