William Molson

Born Nov. 5th, 1793, he was the son of John Molson (1763–1836) and Sarah Insley Vaughan, and was born in Montreal, Lower Canada.

After 1828, William and his partner John Badgley were in the dry goods trade, and advertisements of iron pots, bake ovens, coal ovens, potash kettles, sheet iron and rosin were their staple, as well as foreign alcohols like Granada rum, Cognac and Bordeaux brandy. In partnership with his father, he operated the St Mary's Foundry, and did supply tools for the construction of the Rideau Canal. In 1831 the foundry was leased to Bennet & Henderson and it was the site of the furnishing of the Royal William, after her hull had been built in Quebec. William would later prove himself as more a salesman than a plant operator.

On 7 September 1819, in the Anglican Christ Church, Montreal, Molson married Elizabeth Badgley (1799–1887), daughter of Francis Badgley (merchant) and brother to William Badgley. They had at least two children born at Quebec, one of these was Anne Molson, one of the founders of Montreal Ladies' Educational Association and the first president. The Anne Molson Gold Medal was named after her.

When he died, he had 12 grandchildren. One of his two daughters married John Molson III, who was the son of his brother, and who became the next president of his banking concern.