John Kinder Labatt 1803-1866
Born in Ireland, John Kinder Labatt came to Canada in 1834 and began farming near London. In 1847 he acquired an interest in the London brewery of Samuel Eccles, which had been established by John Balkwill in 1827-28. On Eccles' retirement in 1854, Labatt became the sole owner of the brewery which, under his son and grandson, became one of Canada's largest. John Labatt was also active in the establishment of London's early financial institutions and a promoter of local road and rail transportation.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Ontario Plaques. Full page here.