Graham Ford Towers | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Graham Ford Towers

Graham Ford Towers, banker, public servant (b at Montréal 29 Sept 1897; d at Ottawa 4 Dec 1975). Towers served in WWI and graduated from McGill in 1919. Although originally intending to study law, he entered the service of the ROYAL BANK OF CANADA.

Graham Ford Towers

Graham Ford Towers, banker, public servant (b at Montréal 29 Sept 1897; d at Ottawa 4 Dec 1975). Towers served in WWI and graduated from McGill in 1919. Although originally intending to study law, he entered the service of the ROYAL BANK OF CANADA. Towers rose rapidly, becoming assistant general manager in 1933. In 1934 PM BENNETT summoned Towers to Ottawa, making him first governor of the BANK OF CANADA, a post he occupied until 1954. Under the governments of Mackenzie KING and Louis ST. LAURENT Towers had immense influence over economic policy and was instrumental in, for example, the appointment of the Rowell-Sirois commission in 1937. After his retirement, Towers held a number of directorships.