Jewelry, Silverware -- Catalogs The Ryrie year book, 1921 : Lulu.com : 9780359236527 : 0359236529 : 19 Nov 2018 : Henry Birks (30 November 1840 - 16 April 1928) was a Canadian businessman and founder of Henry Birks and Sons, a chain of high-end Canadian jewellery stores.He was born to English immigrants from Yorkshire, England. His parents moved to Canada in 1832. Son of John Birks, a pharmacist, and Ann Marie, he did his schooling in commercial studies at the High School of Montreal. In 1857, Birks was hired as a clerk at Savage and Lyman in Montreal, reputed to be the finest jeweller and watchmaker in the Province of Canada at that time. Although Birks eventually became a partner in the firm in 1868, the company's later financial difficulties encouraged Birks to leave in 1877 With an investment of C$3000, Birks opened his own small jewellery shop in 1879 on Saint Jacques Street in the heart of Montreal's financial and commercial district. In 1893, Birks went into partnership with his