John Easton Mills

John Easton Mills ( born October 14, 1796 in Tolland, Massachusetts, † November 12, 1847 in Montreal ) was a Canadian politician and banker. From 1846 to his death, he was mayor of the city of Montreal.

Mills moved at a young age with his brother to Montreal to act as fur traders there. From 1844 he worked as a banker and later founded his own bank, the Bank Mills. This has funded several major projects, including the construction of the Basilica of Saint- Patrick de Montréal. In 1846 he became Managing Director of the newly founded Savings Bank of the City and District Montreal ( Banque d' Epargne de la Cite et du District de Montréal).

In Montreal city council Mills led the faction of the reformers and took over in December 1846 the office of mayor. In the summer of 1847 met thousands of Irish immigrants who had fled the Great Famine in Ireland, one in Montreal. They lived under poor conditions in the harbor area, where after a short time a typhus epidemic broke out. Mills organized the construction of cottages and put the necessary resources for the ill prepared. He introduced himself even as a nurse available. He put on himself and died after a short time from the disease.