Timothy Eaton (1834–1907) was an Irish businessman who founded Eaton's, a major Canadian department store chain. Born in Ballymena, Ireland, he moved to Ontario, Canada, where he married and had eight children. After early business ventures, Eaton established a dry goods store in Toronto in 1869, introducing revolutionary retail practices like fixed pricing and a money-back guarantee. He popularized mail-order catalogues, greatly impacting rural communities. Eaton's retail empire peaked during World War II, employing over 70,000 people. He passed away in 1907, and his legacy includes statues in Toronto and Winnipeg, as well as namesakes like Eatonia, Saskatchewan, and various institutions in Canada.

Timothy Eaton - Wikipedia