Memorable Manitobans: Mark Fortune (1847-1912)

Mark Fortune Click to enlarge

Real estate developer.

Mark Fortune Click to enlarge

Born in Wentworth County, Ontario on 2 November 1847, and was educated there, he came to Winnipeg in 1874 and established a real estate business in 1878, erecting many buildings on Portage Avenue. He served on the Winnipeg City Council from 1879 to 1881, and again in 1883. In 1886 he was a Liberal candidate in the constituency of Woodlands but was defeated.

He married Mary McDougald (1851-1929) in Winnipeg. They had six children: Robert William Hamilton Fortune (1877-1965), Clara Alma Fortune (1879-1964, wife of Heber C. Hutton), Ethel Flora Fortune (1883-1961, wife of Crawford Gordon Sr., mother of Crawford Gordon), Alice Elizabeth Fortune (1887-1961, wife of C. H. Allen), Mabel Helen Fortune (1888-1968, wife of Harrison Archer Driscoll), and Charles Alexander Fortune (1892-1912).

He was an ardent curler (President, Granite Curling Club, 1894-1896) and active member of Knox Presbyterian Church. He served a single term on the Winnipeg School Board (1878) and was President of the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg (1897-1898). He was a founder of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, in 1903. He was a founding member, in 1905, of the St. Charles Country Club. In 1911 he built a huge mansion at 393 Wellington Crescent.

Fortune lost his life when the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912. He is commemorated by Fortune Street in Winnipeg.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fortune House (393 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fortune Block (232 Main Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Avenue Building (265 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

Death registration, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Mark Fortune, Geni.

We thank James Arnett and Rick Mutton for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 29 May 2022

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!