Fonds AFC16 - Lionel Ridout fonds

Lionel Augustus Clark Ridout was born in Bristol, England in 1817, the son of George Chambury Ridout and Mary Ann Wright. The family immigrated to Canada in 1820 and settled in York in 1821.
Ridout was educated at Upper Canada College where he was one of its earliest students. In 1844, he established a hardware store in London as a branch of Ridout Brothers and Company, an iron and hardware firm established by his brothers George Percival Ridout and Joseph David Ridout in York. By 1847, Ridout's business was well established on Dundas Street. As his business prospered, Ridout invested in real estate in and around London. He also became a substantial shareholder in several companies, including the County of Middlesex Building Society, the City of London Building Society, the London and Port Stanley Railway Company, and the Proof Line Road Joint Stock Company. Ridout played a leading role in local business organizations, served as a trustee and officer of the London Savings Bank and as president of the County of Middlesex Building Society, and was active in the London Mercantile Library Association.

Between 1856 and 1858, Ridout spent nearly $20,000 on the construction of a residence in Rough Park. Before the completion of the house, however, his business began to suffer from the commercial depression of the late 1850's. Heavily mortgaged, Rough Park, which became the original site of Huron College in 1863, was sold after Ridout's death.

His health in decline by early 1859, Ridout entrusted the management of his business to Hiram Chisholm, and spent much of his time in Toronto under the care of Dr. William Rawlins Beaumont.

In 1846, Ridout married Louisa Lawrason, the eldest daughter of Lawrence Lawrason, a prominent London businessman. They had four children: George, Louisa Jane, Julia (who died in infancy) and Phebe.

Lionel Ridout died in London on November 10, 1859.