Montreal Telegraph Company

In 1847, early telegraph pioneer Orrin S. Wood was recruited to be president of the company, which rapidly established telegraph lines to Toronto and Quebec City from Montreal, and then New York by August 1847.

[3] Wood had technical expertise, but was not an established businessman in Canada, so Hugh Allan became president in 1852, and Wood continued as superintendent.

The creation of Dominion Telegraph Company in 1868 caused strong competition between the two companies, leading to a price war and decreased profits.

Montreal yielded a 97-year lease of its lines to Great North Western in August 1881.

After 1881, the company lost its dominant position, and was eventually integrated into Western Union.