Charles F. W. Burns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 September 1907 |
| Died | 25 October 1982 (aged 75) |
| Education | Upper Canada College Trinity College School University of Toronto |
| Spouse |
Janet Mary Wilson (m. 1934) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Charles Fowler Williams Burns CM (27 September 1907 – 25 October 1982) was a Canadian investment dealer. Burns began his career in 1928 as a junior at the Bank of Nova Scotia where his father, Herbert D. Burns, became president in 1945. He left the bank after a year and moved into the investment business. In January 1932 he founded Chas. Burns & Company, a general brokerage, and in September of that year was joined by his brother Latham, at which time the name was changed to Burns Bros. & Company. The firm became a member of the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1936. Also in 1936, Charles and Latham founded a second investment house, Burns Bros. Limited, which dealt in government and corporate securities. In 1939, Wilfred H. Denton joined the firm, and its name was changed to Burns Bros. & Denton Limited.
Charles served as president of Burns Bros. & Denton from 1936 until 1956, and then as chairman from 1956 until 1976. On 1 March 1976, Burns Bros. & Denton merged with Fry Mills Spence Limited to form Burns Fry Limited. After the merger, he was made honourary chairman of the new firm. In July 1994, Burns Fry was taken over by Nesbitt, Thomson and Company, which had been a subsidiary of the Bank of Montreal since 1987. The amalgamated firm, BMO Nesbitt Burns, remains one of Canada's largest brokerage houses. Burns served also as an executive in the insurance industry. In 1946, he joined the Crown Life Insurance Company as a director, and in 1948 was appointed a vice-president. He became president in 1959 and was elected chairman in 1964. Burns retired as chairman in 1979. He died in Toronto on 25 October 1982 at age 75.