born june 5, 1826, son of thomas molson (1791–1863) & martha molson (1795–1848), at kingston, upper canada. "jackey", as he was affectionately known, was educated in montreal public schools. inheriting the molson brewery in 1847 under the terms of his grandfather's will, he became associated with its management. in 1852 he entered into partnership with his father to conduct their separately owned brewing and distilling enterprises. operations were continued after 1863 by john h.r. molson and other brothers. on the retirement of john thomas molson in 1866, distilling was abandoned but the brewery continued under john h.r. molson and adam skaife. in 1879 molson was made a director of molson bank and was forthwith elected vice-president, and later president, 1889-97. other interests included the montreal street railway, the city and district bank and the scottish life assurance co. he was a life governor of the montreal general hospital, a generous benefactor of mcgill university and a founder of the verdun protestant hospital for the insane.