J. Aird Nesbitt

[1] He proved to be a very capable merchandiser whose marketing skills made Ogilvy's one of Montreal's most popular stores.

[citation needed] James Aird Nesbitt remained active in the running of the Ogilvy department store until his death in 1985.

[citation needed] Following the outbreak of World War II, in 1939 he joined the Canadian Army and served overseas.

The recipient of a number of service decorations, by the time he was decommissioned after the end of the war, Aird Nesbitt had earned the rank of Brigadier.

[citation needed] An art collector, he owned Thomas Gainsborough's Portrait of Mrs James Unwin completed in 1771.