Joseph E. Seagram

Joseph Emm Seagram (April 15, 1841 – August 18, 1919) was a Canadian distillery founder, politician, philanthropist, and major owner of thoroughbred racehorses.

[1] After returning from school in Buffalo, Seagram worked for a time as a bookkeeper at an axe-handle factory in Galt, Ontario.

[4] Later, offered the opportunity to manage a flour mill (Granite Mills) in Waterloo, Ontario, he learned about the distilling process at Waterloo Distillery, a small aside to the George Randall Company's flour business, using extra grain stocks to make alcoholic beverages.

[citation needed] The VO blend, which stood for "very own," was created to celebrate the marriage of Seagram's son Thomas.

[2] He was also known for his philanthropic activities including the donation of 13 acres of land for the construction of the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital, a gift that was dependent on the facility being "open to everyone regardless of race color or creed.

[8] On its formation in 1976, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inducted Joseph E. Seagram as part of its inaugural class in the builder's category.

Seagram married Stephanie Urbs, the niece of Jacob Hespeler, and together they had six children: Edward F., Thomas W., Joseph H., Norman, Alice and Marie, who died as an infant.