Robert McLaughlin moved to Oshawa in Canada (from Ontario) in 1877 so that he could progress the McLaughlin Carriage Company. Even a disastrous fire in 1899 only caused a set back for about a year before new larger premises enabled more growth. Sons George and Sam McLaughlin became interested in building automobiles, and having bought and tested a couple of Buicks they tried to negotiate with William Durant but did not suceed. Instead they created their own but their engineer became ill and the business stalled. Finally they made a deal with Durant to supply Buick chassis and engines for fifteen years and the McLaughlin Motor Car Company was launched in 1907. In 1915 Chevrolet offered McLaughlins the chance to build its cars in Canada, and this was agreed and the Carriage business was sold off. In 1918 McLaughlin sold out to General Motors of Canada but the two brothers were retained, and the 'McLaughlin' name continued in use, until altered to McLaughlin-Buick; after World War Two Canadian cars were simply called 'Buick'.