Melbourne McTaggart Tait
Encyclopedia
Sir Melbourne McTaggart Tait (May 20, 1842 – February 19, 1917) was a Canadian
lawyer and judge.
Born in Melbourne
, Canada East
, studied at St Francis College and received a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University
in 1862. He was called to the Bar in 1863. He served as President of the Montreal Garrick Club after 1878.
He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1882. He practiced law in Melbourne until moving to Montreal in 1870. In 1887, he was raised to the judicial Bench in the Province of Quebec. He was appointed chief justice of the Superior Court in the district of Montreal in 1894. He was made a Knight Bachelor
at Queen Victoria's Jubilee, 1897.
In January, 1903, he headed a movement to erect Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal a Children's Hospital, as a memorial to Queen Victoria.
His son, Thomas James Tait
, was a railway commissioner.
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 and judge.
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne, Quebec
Melbourne is a township of 950 people, part of the Le Val-Saint-François Regional County Municipality in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec.-External links:*...
, Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
, studied at St Francis College and received a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1862. He was called to the Bar in 1863. He served as President of the Montreal Garrick Club after 1878.
He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1882. He practiced law in Melbourne until moving to Montreal in 1870. In 1887, he was raised to the judicial Bench in the Province of Quebec. He was appointed chief justice of the Superior Court in the district of Montreal in 1894. He was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
at Queen Victoria's Jubilee, 1897.
In January, 1903, he headed a movement to erect Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal a Children's Hospital, as a memorial to Queen Victoria.
Family
Melbourne McTaggart Tait, then an advocate, married 1878 his second wife Lily M. Kaighn, daughter of Henry B. Kaighn, of Newport, R. I. Lady Tait performed as an actress, after her marriage, with the Montreal Garrick Club, of which her husband was President. The couple lived at 994 Sherbrooke Street, Montreal.His son, Thomas James Tait
Thomas James Tait
Sir Thomas James Tait was a Canadian-born rail executive.Born in Melbourne, Quebec, the son of Melbourne McTaggart Tait, Tait entered the service of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1880, and by 1903 he was manager of transportation with Canadian Pacific Railway company.In March 1903 Tait was appointed...
, was a railway commissioner.