John David Eaton

John David Eaton, merchant (b at Toronto 4 Oct 1909; d there 4 Aug 1973), second son of Sir John Craig EATON. He left Cambridge at age 21 to begin his apprenticeship with the T. EATON CO LTD in the men's wear dept of the Toronto store. He learned the firm's various operations, became a director in 1934, a vice-president in 1937, and president in 1942. During his presidency the business expanded in the North and West, and contributory medical insurance and a retirement plan for employees were introduced. Eaton personally contributed $50 million to the latter when it began in 1948, fuelling speculation that he was the richest man in the country. A shy man, he lived quietly.