Arthur Irving

{{Short description|Canadian billionaire businessman (1930–2024)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Arthur Irving

| image = Arthur Irving.jpg

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|ONB|size=100%}}

| birth_name = Arthur Lee Irving

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|7|14}}

| birth_place = Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|5|13|1930|7|14}}

| death_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| education = Acadia University (dropped out)

| alma_mater =

| occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|chancellor}}

| known_for = Owning Irving Oil

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Joan Carlisle Irving||1980|end=div}}
{{marriage|Sandra Ring|1980|reason=}}

}}

| parents = K. C. Irving

| children = 5, including Sarah Irving

| relatives = {{Plain list|

James K. Irving (brother)
John E. Irving (brother)

}}

Arthur Lee Irving {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|ONB}} (July 14, 1930 – May 13, 2024) was a Canadian billionaire businessman, the second son of industrialist K. C. Irving of the Irving family. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Irving was the president of Irving Oil, and later became its sole owner through the Arthur Irving Family Trust. By the time of his death, his net worth was estimated between {{USD|6.4 billion}} and {{USD|9.8 billion}}.

Additionally, Irving served as the chancellor of Acadia University between 1996 and 2010, where he previously attended before dropping out to pursue the family-owned industry. Irving was also a longtime board member of Ducks Unlimited Canada. Irving received honours and awards including the Order of New Brunswick and the Order of Canada.

Biography

Arthur Irving was born on July 14, 1930{{cite news |last=Poitras |first=Jacques |authorlink=Jacques Poitras |title=Billionaire businessman Arthur Irving dead at 93 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/arthur-irving-death-1.7202701 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=CBC News New Brunswick |date=May 13, 2024 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513174923/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/arthur-irving-death-1.7202701 |url-status=live }} in Saint John, New Brunswick, the second son of industrialist K. C. Irving.{{cite web|url=https://irving.dartmouth.edu/about-institute/about-donors|title=About the Donors – The Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society|website=irving.dartmouth.edu|accessdate=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930174747/http://irving.dartmouth.edu/about-institute/about-donors|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=dead}} His mother, Harriet Lila Irving ({{nee|MacNarin}}), was from Galloway in Kent County.{{cite web |title=About the Irvings |url=https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/about/about-the-irvings/ |website=Acadia University |access-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513031014/https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/about/about-the-irvings/ |url-status=live }} Irving attended the Winter Street School as well as the Rothesay Collegiate School.{{cite web |title=Obituary for Arthur L. Irving |url=https://www.irvingoil.com/en-US/press-room/obituary-for-arthur-l-irving |website=Irving Oil |access-date=May 16, 2024 |date=May 14, 2024}} He was later temporarily enrolled at Acadia University, of which he later served as chancellor between 1996 and 2010,{{cite news |last1=Mott |first1=Sean |title=Irving Oil former president dies at age 93 |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/irving-oil-former-president-dies-at-age-93-1.6884961 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=CTV Atlantic |date=May 13, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513193135/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/irving-oil-former-president-dies-at-age-93-1.6884961 |url-status=live }} though he later dropped out to pursue work in the family industry.{{cite news |title=Canada's corporate elite 1998: ninth annual review of leaders and leadership |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/223887839 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Financial Post |date=November 1998 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513194325/https://www.proquest.com/docview/223887839/9DA8F4822DFC4175PQ/3 |id={{ProQuest|223887839}} |url-status=live }} In 1951, he began working at Irving Oil, later becoming its president in 1972,{{cite news |title=Irving Oil announces the passing of its Chairman Emeritus, Arthur L. Irving |url=https://www.irvingoil.com/en-CA/press-room/irving-oil-announces-the-passing-its-chairman-emeritus-arthur-l-irving |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Irving Oil |date=May 13, 2024 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513171617/https://www.irvingoil.com/en-CA/press-room/irving-oil-announces-the-passing-its-chairman-emeritus-arthur-l-irving |url-status=live }} following the retirement of his father.

Irving spent over three decades on Ducks Unlimited Canada's board of directors,{{cite news |title=Arthur Irving to receive Red Cross Humanitarian Award |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1362335705 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The Daily Gleaner |date=June 4, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513183447/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1362335705/5FB7E4EB763245B5PQ/5 |id={{ProQuest|1362335705}} |url-status=live }} and was president from 1986 to1987.{{cite news |last1=Mazerolle |first1=Brant |title=N.B. man named president of Ducks Unlimited Canada |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1430989718 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The Daily Gleaner |date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513194321/https://www.proquest.com/docview/1430989718/FFC7219E17024897PQ/4 |id={{ProQuest|1430989718}} |url-status=live }}

Following their father's death in 1992, ownership and responsibility for the Irving companies were divided amongst Irving along with his brothers James and Jack. Irving Oil's responsibility was passed to Irving, which included its gas stations, oil refineries, oil tankers, distribution terminals and other facilities,{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Irving Oil |url=https://www.irvingoil.com/en-US/discover-irving/about-us |access-date=May 14, 2024 |website=www.irvingoil.com |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407185530/https://www.irvingoil.com/en-US/discover-irving/about-us |url-status=live }} while a portion of the company's stake was given to Jack, which his family later sold to the Arthur Irving Family Trust in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Poitras |first1=Jacques |author1-link=Jacques Poitras |title=Jack Irving's family sells stake in major Irving Oil shakeup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-oil-jack-irving-buyout-1.4688059 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=CBC News |date=June 1, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513205533/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-oil-jack-irving-buyout-1.4688059 |url-status=live }}

While serving as its chancellor, Irving, along with his two brothers, donated two facilities to Acadia University in 2002: the K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, as well as the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.[http://www.acadiau.ca/whatsnew/newsrelease/2003/spring_convoc_07may03.html Acadiau.Ca] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607135047/http://www.acadiau.ca/whatsnew/newsrelease/2003/spring_convoc_07may03.html |date=June 7, 2007 }}{{cite news |title=Irvings give university new centre |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/412849766 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The Daily Gleaner |date=September 18, 2002 |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514210554/https://www.proquest.com/docview/412849766/5FB7E4EB763245B5PQ/8 |id={{ProQuest|412849766}} |url-status=live }} In 2012, in partnership with Acadia University and Ducks Unlimited Canada, Irving established the Beaubassin Research Station in Aulac.{{cite news |last1=Mackenzie |first1=Amy |title=Researchers to study benefits of wetlands |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1037496496 |access-date=May 18, 2024 |work=Telegraph-Journal |date=September 1, 2012|id={{ProQuest|1037496496}} }} In 2016, Dartmouth accepted $80 million from the Irving family to set up the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society.{{cite web|title=Announcing the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society – Dartmouth News|url=https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2016/09/announcing-arthur-l-irving-institute-energy-and-society|website=news.dartmouth.edu|date=September 16, 2016 |accessdate=June 29, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920084211/https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2016/09/announcing-arthur-l-irving-institute-energy-and-society|url-status=live}}

Until October 2023, Irving served as the Irving Oil board of directors' chairman,{{cite news |last1=Kirby |first1=Jason |title=Irving Oil owner Arthur Irving dead at 93 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-irving-oil-owner-arthur-irving-dead-at-93/ |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=May 13, 2024 |language=en-CA |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513171232/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-irving-oil-owner-arthur-irving-dead-at-93/ |url-status=live }} though he continued to work in the business until his death. His stepping down came amidst a "strategic review of the company's future" announced earlier in June 2023, in which there was mention that the review "could lead to its full or partial sale."{{cite news |last1=Brice |first1=Mcvicar |title=Ian Whitcomb stepping down as Irving Oil president |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2932728901 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The Daily Gleaner |date=February 28, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514210556/https://www.proquest.com/docview/2932728901/81778FEAA0AD4517PQ/11 |id={{ProQuest|2932728901}} |url-status=live }}

Awards

In 2002, Irving was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2012, he was made a member of the Order of New Brunswick.{{cite web|url=http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/order_of_new_brunswick/2012_recipients.html|title=2012 Order of New Brunswick recipients|access-date=May 29, 2015|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195906/https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/order_of_new_brunswick/2012_recipients.html|url-status=dead}} In November 2007, Irving was inducted into the 2008 Canadian Business Hall of Fame along with his two brothers.{{cite news |title=Irvings among 6 named to Business Hall of Fame |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/irvings-among-6-named-to-business-hall-of-fame/article_f29172de-941b-5291-b899-42776025a2e5.html |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Toronto Star |date=November 20, 2007 |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513183446/https://www.thestar.com/business/irvings-among-6-named-to-business-hall-of-fame/article_f29172de-941b-5291-b899-42776025a2e5.html |url-status=live }} The following year, both Irving and his wife received honorary Doctor of Letters degrees by the University of New Brunswick.{{cite web |title=About Sandra Irving |url=https://www.unb.ca/giving/impact/scholarships/sandrairving/about-sandra-irving.html |website=University of New Brunswick |access-date=May 13, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513191737/https://www.unb.ca/giving/impact/scholarships/sandrairving/about-sandra-irving.html |url-status=live }} In 2013, Irving was New Brunswick's inductee for the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Award. In 2019, Irving received the Paul Harris Fellowship honoured by Rotary International.{{cite news |last1=Hewitt |first1=Fallon |title=Unmatched devotion: N.B. business titans being honoured with fellowship |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2229821042 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Times & Transcript |date=May 25, 2019 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513191736/https://www.proquest.com/docview/2229821042/5FB7E4EB763245B5PQ/27 |id={{ProQuest|2229821042}} |url-status=live }}

Personal life and death

Irving was married to Joan Carlisle. They had four children before divorcing in 1980. His second marriage was with Sandra Ring, with whom he had a daughter, Sarah Irving.{{cite web |title=Arthur Irving |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/arthur-l-irving/ |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512154954/https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/arthur-l-irving/ |url-status=live }} Irving lived in Saint John while additionally owning a residence in Boston, Massachusetts.

On May 13, 2024, Irving died from cancer at the age of 93,{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Brad |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Businessman Arthur Irving dies at age 93 |url=https://www.cjls.com/2024/05/13/businessman-arthur-irving-dies-at-age-93/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514210613/https://www.cjls.com/2024/05/13/businessman-arthur-irving-dies-at-age-93/ |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=CJLS-FM |access-date=May 13, 2024}} at the Massachusetts General Hospital.{{cite web |title=Obituary of Arthur L. Irving |url=https://brenansfh.com/tribute/details/32696/Arthur-Irving/obituary.html |publisher=Brenan's Paradise Row Funeral Home |access-date=May 15, 2024}} By the time of his death, Forbes had estimated his net worth being at {{USD|6.4 billion}},{{cite web |title=Arthur Irving |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/arthur-irving/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513172614/https://www.forbes.com/profile/arthur-irving/?sh=18dbb5817aa8 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |url-status=live |work=Forbes |access-date=May 13, 2024 |language=en}} while Bloomberg estimated his net worth at {{USD|9.8 billion}}. His funeral took place in Saint John.

Arthur Irving

Biography

Awards

Personal life and death

See also

References

Further reading