Timothy Eaton

Eaton was born near Ballymena and emigrated to Canada as a young man. With his two brothers he opened a general shop in St Mary's, Ontario. Then, in 1868, he moved to Toronto where he set up a store based on the principal of cash sales at fixed prices. This developed into one of the biggest department stores in North America. Eaton was an enlightened employer, concerned about the welfare of his staff. For example, he was the first employer to introduce early closing.

He died in Toronto in 1907.