Samuel Edward Weir, Q.C. was born in 1898, and lived and worked as a lawyer in London, Ontario. He began collecting works of fine art in his twenties; pieces by Homer Watson and Dame Laura Knight were among these earliest acquisitions.
In the 1940s Mr. Weir bought land along the Niagara River, in the village of Queenston. In 1970, his home, RiverBrink, was ready for his retirement and to receive his extensive collection. He died in 1981, leaving the collection for the edification and enjoyment of the public.
Mr. Weir left the home and collection in the care of The Weir Foundation, through which it is made accessible to the public. RiverBrink officially opened as a gallery and museum on June 15, 1983.
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