H. Montagu Allan - Public Life

Public Life

Allan was Chairman of the Bishop's College School Association; President of the Montreal General Hospital; President of the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal; Vice-President of the Montreal Racquets Club and was one of the founders of the Mount Royal Club and the Winter Club. He was a leader in the Charity Organization Society and a director for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Sir Montagu Allan was honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Regiment of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, and in 1915 was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, accompanying them to Europe where he fought in World War I.

Allan was an avid sportsman and outdoor enthusiast, and a member of a number of sporting clubs. He had a special passion for horses and served as Master of the Montreal Hunt; President of the Canadian Racing Association; Director of the Royal International Horse Show in London; President of Montreal Jockey Club and Chairman of Montreal Horse Show Association. He owned a thoroughbred horse-racing stable, and his horses won several Queen's Plates, Montreal Hunt Cups, Members' Plates and the Hunters' Handicap Steeplechase Cup.

Montagu Allan was created a Knight Bachelor by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in 1906 and the following year was decorated Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He held the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan (3rd Class), after entertaining Prince Fushimi Sadanaru at his Montreal home, Ravenscrag, where he also hosted Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and King Edward VIII.