Frances Fish
Encyclopedia
Frances Lilian Fish, Q.C. (1888–1975), the daughter of Charles Elijah Fish
, was the first female law school graduate and lawyer in Nova Scotia
, the first woman to run for office in the New Brunswick
legislature, and a prominent lawyer in Newcastle, New Brunswick
.
Fish, a B.A. graduate of University of New Brunswick
(1910), obtained an M.A. in classics from University of Chicago
(about 1913), before completing her law degree at Dalhousie University
in 1918. On September 10, 1918 she was the first woman called to the bar in Nova Scotia. At the time, women were not considered to be "persons" under the law.
Although she lived in Winnipeg, Ottawa and Toronto, she returned to Newcastle following her father's death in 1933. She was among the first six female lawyers in the province. She ran as the Reconstruction Party candidate for the Northumberland
riding in the 1935 federal election, but was defeated by Liberal
John Patrick Barry
. She also ran as an unsuccessful Conservative Party candidate in the 1935 New Brunswick provincial election.
In 1947 she was named New Brunswick's first female deputy county magistrate, and was appointed a Q.C. in 1972. The Frances Fish Women Lawyers Achievement Award, presented biennially by the Nova Scotia Association of Women and the Law, commemorates her achievements.
Charles Elijah Fish
Charles Elijah Fish was a businessman and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1899 to 1903 and Northumberland in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1926 as a Conservative member.He was born and...
, was the first female law school graduate and lawyer in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, the first woman to run for office in the New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
legislature, and a prominent lawyer in Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
.
Fish, a B.A. graduate of University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
(1910), obtained an M.A. in classics from University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
(about 1913), before completing her law degree at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in 1918. On September 10, 1918 she was the first woman called to the bar in Nova Scotia. At the time, women were not considered to be "persons" under the law.
Although she lived in Winnipeg, Ottawa and Toronto, she returned to Newcastle following her father's death in 1933. She was among the first six female lawyers in the province. She ran as the Reconstruction Party candidate for the Northumberland
Miramichi (electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988. It was replaced by Miramichi riding, which has been represented in the House of Commons since 1988...
riding in the 1935 federal election, but was defeated by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
John Patrick Barry
John Patrick Barry
John Patrick Barry was a Canadian politician and lawyer. Defeating candidates Frances Fish and John Adams Creaghan, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1935 election as a Member of the Liberal Party to represent the riding of Northumberland...
. She also ran as an unsuccessful Conservative Party candidate in the 1935 New Brunswick provincial election.
In 1947 she was named New Brunswick's first female deputy county magistrate, and was appointed a Q.C. in 1972. The Frances Fish Women Lawyers Achievement Award, presented biennially by the Nova Scotia Association of Women and the Law, commemorates her achievements.