The Eaton family is a Canadian family of Scottish-Irish Methodist origin. Established in Toronto, the family dynasty began in 1869 when Timothy Eaton (1834–1907) founded Eaton's, which became a national chain of department stores. At its height, the family's net worth was around $2 billion. Although the Eaton's department store chain went bankrupt in 1999, the family still holds considerable wealth.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and author Rod McQueen have dubbed them as "Canada's royal family", with the CBC describing the Eatons as "homegrown aristocracy", which drew comparisons to the influential Kennedy family. The Eatons were well known for their lavish lifestyle and occasional philanthropy.
Notable family members
John Eaton (1784–1834), m. Margaret Craig (1796–1848) Robert Eaton (1816–1893) Eliza Jane Eaton (1819–1861) Mary Anne Eaton (1821–1841) Margaret Eaton (1824–1900) John Eaton (1827–1895), m. Margaret Herbison (1833–1907) William Herbison Eaton (1873–) (3) Robert Young Eaton (1875–1956),President of Eaton's, 19221942 m. Hazel Ireland (1889–1965) Margaret Craig Eaton (1912–1988),(Director-General, Canadian Women's Army Corps, 19441945) m. John Hubert Dunn (1897–) John Wallace Eaton (1912–1990)worked at Eaton's; managed Montreal store (twin brother of Margaret), m. Phyllis Finlayson (1915–1997) Edith Elisabeth Nora Eaton (1913–2010), m. Paul Robert van der Stricht (1908–2004) Erskine Robert Eaton (1915–1942) (died in Dieppe Raid) Alan Young Eaton (1916–2000), m. Diana Fishleigh Nancy Eaton (1829–) Sarah Eaton (1831–) James Eaton (1832–1904) (1) Timothy Eaton (1834–1907),President of Eaton's, 18701907 m. Margaret Wilson Beattie (1841–1933) Josephine Smyth Eaton (1865–1943), m. Thomas David Meldrum Burnside (1835–1900) Iris Margaret Burnside (1894–1915) (died on the RMS Lusitania) Allan Eaton Meldrum Burnside (1898–1937) Margaret Elizabeth Beattie Eaton (1867–1952), m. Charles Eldridge Burden (1863) Margaret Beattie Eaton Burden (1898–), m. Billy Bishop (1894–1956) Henry John Burden (1894–1960) Edward Young Eaton (1871–1900), m. Tillie Robinson (1869–1895) Marjorie Tillie Eaton (1892–1952), m. Harold Simcoe Coulson (1884–1936) Alice Eaton (1894–), m. Edward Browse Edward Eaton, m. Nancy Leigh Gossage (1926–2007) Nancy Alice Edward Eaton (1961–1985) (murdered) William Fletcher Eaton (1875–1935),worked at Eaton's; managed textile manufacturing plant (Oshawa 19031916) m. Gertrude Nora Cook (1877–) Josephine Norah Eaton (1900–), m. George Edward Leishman (1897–) Noel Beattie Eaton (1910–1996), m. Julia Isabell Fleming (1912–1989) (2) Sir John Craig Eaton (1876–1922),President of Eaton's, 19071922 m. Flora McCrea (1879–1970), formally known as Lady Eaton Timothy Craig Eaton (1903–1986) (4) John David Eaton (1909–1973),President of Eaton's, 19421973 m. Signy Hildur Stefansson (1913–1992) John Craig Eaton II (1937–), m. Catherine Farr John David Eaton (1961–) Signy Eaton (1962–) Henry Craig Eaton (1963–) (5) Fredrik Stefan Eaton (1938–2021),President of Eaton's, 19771988; High Commissioner of Canada to the United Kingdom, 19911994 m. Catherine Martin (1940–2023) Fredrik D'Arcy Eaton Fredrik Gordon Eaton (2007–) William D'Arcy Neil Eaton (2008–) Flora Catherine Eaton Coakley Thor Edgar Eaton (1942–2017),promoter of the Festival Express in 1970, as depicted in the 2003 film. m. Nicole Courtois (1945–) Thor Eaton Cleophée Eaton (6) George Ross Eaton (1945–)President of Eaton's, 19881997 Edgar Allison Eaton (1912–1988), m. Mildred Jarvis Page (1915–1968) Gilbert McCrea Eaton (1915–1985), m. Marjorie Ann Maston (1913–1988) Florence Mary Eaton (1919–2012), m. Frank Flavelle McEachren (1918–1995) Evlyn Beatrice Eaton (1919?–1989) (adopted), m. Russell Payton (1915–1976)
Notes Not exhaustive – listing is generally restricted to siblings of Timothy Eaton, his children, their spouses, and significant descendants. (#) – order of succession as the head of Eaton's.
Eaton properties and monuments
See also Statue of Timothy Eaton Telegram Corporation
References
Further reading
External links Ardwold mansion, Toronto – lostrivers.ca