James Robert Gowan
Encyclopedia
Sir James Robert Gowan, KCMG
, QC
(December 22, 1815 – March 18, 1909) was a Canadian
lawyer, judge, and senator.
Born in Cahore, County Wexford
, Ireland
, the son of Henry Hatton Gowan and Elizabeth Burkitt, he was educated privately in Dublin. In 1832, he emigrated to Canada and settled outside of Toronto
. In 1833, he became a student in the law office of James Edward Small
and later practiced law there. He married Anne Ardagh in 1854. They had no children. In 1843, he was appointed judge of the newly created Simcoe District, the largest jurisdiction in Upper Canada. He was the youngest judge ever commissioned in the British empire at the time. He retired in 1883. In 1885, he was appointed a Senator on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Barrie, Ontario. A Liberal-Conservative, he served for 22 until his resigning in 1907.
He was created a C.M.G.
in 1893 and knighted in 1905.
He was related to Ogle Robert Gowan
, Emily Gowan Murphy née Ferguson
, and Thomas Roberts Ferguson
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(December 22, 1815 – March 18, 1909) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer, judge, and senator.
Born in Cahore, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the son of Henry Hatton Gowan and Elizabeth Burkitt, he was educated privately in Dublin. In 1832, he emigrated to Canada and settled outside of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1833, he became a student in the law office of James Edward Small
James Edward Small
James Edward Small was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada and Canada West.He was born in York in 1798, the son of John Small. He attended the Home District School with Robert Baldwin. During the War of 1812, he served on the ship St. Lawrence...
and later practiced law there. He married Anne Ardagh in 1854. They had no children. In 1843, he was appointed judge of the newly created Simcoe District, the largest jurisdiction in Upper Canada. He was the youngest judge ever commissioned in the British empire at the time. He retired in 1883. In 1885, he was appointed a Senator on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Barrie, Ontario. A Liberal-Conservative, he served for 22 until his resigning in 1907.
He was created a C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1893 and knighted in 1905.
He was related to Ogle Robert Gowan
Ogle Robert Gowan
Ogle Robert Gowan was a farmer, Orangeman, journalist and political figure in Upper Canada and Canada West....
, Emily Gowan Murphy née Ferguson
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. In 1916, she became the first woman magistrate in Canada, and in the British Empire...
, and Thomas Roberts Ferguson
Thomas Roberts Ferguson
Thomas Roberts Ferguson was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Simcoe South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1873 and Cardwell in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1872.-Life and career:Thomas Roberts Ferguson was born...
.