Joseph Sedgwick
Encyclopedia
Joseph Sedgwick, CC
, QC
(24 November 1898 - 27 December 1981) was a Canadian
lawyer.
He was born in Leeds
, England
and became a lawyer in 1923 following studies at the University of Toronto
and Osgoode Hall
. Sedgwick contributed to changes in the Criminal Code of Canada
through a Royal Commission
in the early 1950s. He was counsel to George and Viola R. MacMillan
in the 1964 Royal Commission to probe the activity of Windfall Oil and Mines Ltd. Politically, he was Progressive Conservative
. He also served as Treasurer for the Law Society of Upper Canada
from 1962 to 1963.
His honours include Queen's Counsel
(awarded in 1933, then known as King's Counsel) and the Order of Canada
(awarded rank of Companion in 1974).
Sedgwick died in Toronto aged 83, predeceased by his wife Emma Irene McLaughlin. The couple had two children.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, 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...
(24 November 1898 - 27 December 1981) 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.
He was born in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, 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...
and became a lawyer in 1923 following studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It houses the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice, and the Law Society of Upper Canada...
. Sedgwick contributed to changes in the Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
through a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
in the early 1950s. He was counsel to George and Viola R. MacMillan
Viola R. MacMillan
Violet Rita "Viola" MacMillan was a Canadian authority on mining. She was one of the few women in the mining industry, and was the first woman president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada...
in the 1964 Royal Commission to probe the activity of Windfall Oil and Mines Ltd. Politically, he was Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
. He also served as Treasurer for the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
from 1962 to 1963.
His honours include 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...
(awarded in 1933, then known as King's Counsel) and the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(awarded rank of Companion in 1974).
Sedgwick died in Toronto aged 83, predeceased by his wife Emma Irene McLaughlin. The couple had two children.