In 1857, Birks was hired as a clerk at Savage and Lyman in Montreal, reputed to be the finest jeweller and watchmaker in the Province of Canada at that time.

[1] With an investment of C$3000, Birks opened his own small jewellery shop in 1879 on Saint James Street in the heart of Montreal's financial and commercial district.

Commencing in 1901, Birks oversaw the expansion of the company across the country, with stores opening in Canada's largest cities.

The son of English immigrants, his education was focused primarily on commerce, and he subsequently put it into practice by working in a large and successful firm.

[3] Media related to Henry Birks at Wikimedia Commons This biography about a Canadian businessperson is a stub.