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History
John Bassett was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland on February 7, 1886. He was educated at the Royal University of Ireland and came to Canada in 1909. He joined the staff of the Montreal Gazette. At the onset of World War I, John joined the Army and attained the rank of Major; The Belgian Government decorated him. At the end of the war he returned to the Gazette and became its Director at the age of 27, made Vice-president at age 23 and President at age 51; In 1956 he became Chairman of the Board. He was the Gazette's "Parliamentary Correspondent" from 1911-1926 (with the except of 1914-1918;) He was also the owner and President of "The Sherbrooke Daily Record." John married Margaret Avery of Ottawa in 1914; They had on son, John White Hughes Bassett born August 25, 1915. In politics he was a strong and active Conservative, and was also President of the Gazette Printing Company. John Bassett was a trustee of Bishop's University from 1939 until 1958, and 11th Chancellor of the University from 1950 until 1958. Throughout his tenure as Chancellor, he was the University's principal counsellor in financial matters and in relations with the Union Nationale government. He died on February 12, 1959. In that same year, a new Library building was officially opened and named the John Bassett Memorial Library in his honour,