Thomas Mabon Radenhurst
Encyclopedia
Thomas Mabon Radenhurst, QC
(April 6, 1803 - August 7, 1854) was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born at Fort St. Johns (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) in Lower Canada
in 1803. His father, an immigrant from England
, died in 1805. He was educated at John Strachan
's school in York (Toronto
) and then studied law with his cousin, George Ridout in York. He was called to the bar in 1824 and then moved to Perth
, the judicial seat of the Bathurst District. In 1828, he was elected to the 10th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Carleton County
.
In 1830, he fought a duel
with another Perth lawyer, James Boulton; neither party was seriously injured. In 1833, Robert Lyon, Radenhurst's student, and John Wilson
, Boulton's student, fought the last fatal duel in Canada; Lyon died on June 13 1833.
He was appointed district court judge in 1841 but declined the appointment because he felt that it did not provide adequate compensation. He served as crown prosecutor for the Eastern
and Midland District
s. In 1850, he became a Queen's Counsel
.
He died at Perth in 1854.
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...
(April 6, 1803 - August 7, 1854) was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born at Fort St. Johns (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
in 1803. His father, an immigrant from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, died in 1805. He was educated at John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
's school in York (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...
) and then studied law with his cousin, George Ridout in York. He was called to the bar in 1824 and then moved to Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
, the judicial seat of the Bathurst District. In 1828, he was elected to the 10th Parliament of Upper Canada
10th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 10th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 January 1829. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1828. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada...
representing Carleton County
Carleton County, Ontario
Carleton County is the name of a historic county in Ontario, Canada. In 1969 it was superseded by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. In 2001 the Regional Municipality and the eleven local municipalities within it were replaced by the current City of Ottawa.-History:Carleton County was...
.
In 1830, he fought a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with another Perth lawyer, James Boulton; neither party was seriously injured. In 1833, Robert Lyon, Radenhurst's student, and John Wilson
John Wilson (Ontario politician)
John Wilson was an Ontario lawyer, judge and political figure. He shot and killed Robert Lyon in what is believed to have been the last duel fought in Ontario and the last fatal duel in Canada....
, Boulton's student, fought the last fatal duel in Canada; Lyon died on June 13 1833.
He was appointed district court judge in 1841 but declined the appointment because he felt that it did not provide adequate compensation. He served as crown prosecutor for the Eastern
Eastern District, Upper Canada
Eastern District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Lunenburg District until 1792, it was abolished in 1849...
and Midland District
Midland District, Upper Canada
Midland District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Mecklenburg District until 1792, it was abolished in 1849...
s. In 1850, he became a Queen's Counsel
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...
.
He died at Perth in 1854.