Eaton, Timothy National Historic Person
Toronto, Ontario
Portrait of Timothy Eaton, 1890
© Williams (E.G.) & Bro / Toronto Public Library | Bibliothèque Publique de Toronto / X 66-25
Address :
220 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1971-10-14
Life Date:
1834 to 1907
Other Name(s):
-
Eaton, Timothy
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Established famous department store 1869, began mail order in 1884
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: 220 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
Born in Ireland, Timothy Eaton came to Upper Canada about 1854, eventually becoming a partner in his brothers' general store at St. Mary's. In 1869 he established his own business in Toronto. Through merchandising innovations, such as cash sale for a fixed price, the company prospered and became one of the country's first department stores. Eaton introduced a mail order department in 1884, extending the benefits of popular prices and a wide selection of goods to the rural market. His energies were devoted almost exclusively to the company which, at his death, was Canada's largest retail business.