Arthur Irving, who grew his family's oil business and became one of Canada's richest men, has died at the age of 93
Arthur L. Irving, one of Canada's richest men and son of industrialist C. C. Irving, died in his 93rd year, having devoted his life to developing the oil business founded by his father.
Irving Oil said in a statement that he died Monday surrounded by his wife, Sandra, and daughter, Sarah.
Forbes magazine listed Arthur Irving as one of the top ten richest Canadians in 2023. At the time of his death, his fortune was estimated at $6.4 billion, which included Canada's largest oil refinery in New Brunswick, as well as the Whitegate refinery in Ireland.
Irving was born in 1930, attended Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and joined Irving Oil in 1951, where he worked alongside his father and two brothers.
"I had a choice: continue my education at Acadia or learn business from the best teacher - my father", he told author Donald Savoie in his 2020 book about Irving Oil. "I chose the best teacher".
He became president of the company in 1972, and at his death served as chairman emeritus of the board of directors.
His death came as the company's St. John refinery undergoes a "strategic review" to determine its future as climate change forces some countries to divest from fossil fuels.
Although Irving's biographers credit him with his success in expanding the company, his life has also been marked by family difficulties, including a contentious divorce from his first wife in 1980 and - more recently - estrangement from his eldest son.
In his 2014 book Irving vs. Irving, journalist Jacques Poitras described a poignant scene in August 2013, when Irving spoke at a press conference in St. John's to announce that his company was officially launching a bid - which ultimately failed - to build a pipeline to transport crude oil from Alberta to a refinery owned by his family.
Poitras noted that Kenneth, "his son and heir", was noticeably absent after a 2010 spat left the company. "Arthur, who was in his eighties, was surrounded by admirers and yet lonely. His oil refinery loomed in the background ... but his family was torn apart", Poitras writes.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Arthur Irving's business life and interests were closely tied to his two brothers, J.K. and Jack, as they assumed primary responsibility for various segments of the business empire created by their father. Trucking firms ran on gasoline obtained from these companies, logging and shipping companies used the Irvings' construction subsidiaries, and a newspaper chain purchased newsprint from a nearby mill.
In late 2009, the three Irving brothers split their business interests, with Arthur taking control of the energy business.
In a statement, the company called Irving "an unwavering advocate for Atlantic Canada and its people" and one of a kind.
"In this great loss, we know that there will never be another like him again", the message said.