Robert Simpson (store founder)

Born in Speyside[?], Moray, Scotland in 1834, he was trained in the drapery trade before emigrating to Toronto, Canada at the age of 21 where he worked in a dry goods store. Before long, Simpson started up his own store and in 1872 he opened a pioneer department store in Toronto that eventually expand into a major national chain.

In 1894, the company began issuing catalogues that are still produced today under the Sears (Sears-Roebuck) name. Originally the giant U.S. Sears company formed a partnership called Simpson-Sears but later would take over the complete operations.

Robert Simpson died in 1897 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Tor