Nicholas Beck
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Du Bois Dominic Beck (1857 — 1928) was a lawyer
and jurist
in Alberta
, Canada
.
on May 4, 1857 to Reverend J.W.R. and Georgina (Boulton) Beck.
He attended private schools and the Collegiate Institute of Peterboro. He graduated from the University of Toronto
and Osgoode Hall Law School
with a Bachelor of Laws
in 1881, having been practicing in Peterborough, Ontario
since 1879.
, Manitoba
the year after, then made his way further west, to Calgary
in 1889 practicing at the firm of Lougheed, McCarthy & Beck, and settling in Edmonton
in 1891 to form the firm of Beck, Emery, Newell and Boulton. He then worked as a Crown Prosecutor from 1892 to 1907, being employed by the City of Edmonton. He took silk by becoming Queen's Counsel
in 1893. He also served as President of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories from 1901-1907, ending his duties with the creation of the Law Society of Alberta
in 1907.
in 1907 and was elevated to the Appellate Division
when it was created in 1921. He served on the court until his death on May 14, 1928.
in 1908, serving until 1926 when he became the University's second Chancellor
. He also served on the University's Senate from 1908 to 1928 and on the Board of Governors
from 1926 to 1927.
investigating the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
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...
.
Early life
Beck was born in Cobourg, OntarioCobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
on May 4, 1857 to Reverend J.W.R. and Georgina (Boulton) Beck.
He attended private schools and the Collegiate Institute of Peterboro. He graduated from 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 Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1881, having been practicing in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
since 1879.
Lawyer
He was called to the Ontario bar in 1882, moving his practice to WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
the year after, then made his way further west, to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1889 practicing at the firm of Lougheed, McCarthy & Beck, and settling in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in 1891 to form the firm of Beck, Emery, Newell and Boulton. He then worked as a Crown Prosecutor from 1892 to 1907, being employed by the City of Edmonton. He took silk by becoming 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...
in 1893. He also served as President of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories from 1901-1907, ending his duties with the creation of the Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
in 1907.
Justice
Beck was appointed to newly created Supreme Court of AlbertaCourt of Queen's Bench of Alberta
The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta is the superior court of the Canadian province of Alberta....
in 1907 and was elevated to the Appellate Division
Court of Appeal of Alberta
The Court of Appeal of Alberta is an Canadian appellate court.-Jurisdiction and Hierarchy within Canadian Courts:The Court is the highest court in Alberta, Canada...
when it was created in 1921. He served on the court until his death on May 14, 1928.
Chancellor
Beck became the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1908, serving until 1926 when he became the University's second Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
. He also served on the University's Senate from 1908 to 1928 and on the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
from 1926 to 1927.
Other
Having become a Roman Catholic in 1883, he started editing the Northwest Catholic Review. He also became an editor of the Territorial and Alberta Law Reports. Although his initial career began as a Conservative, he was an ardent Liberal by 1900. In 1910 he was appointed Chairman of the Royal CommissionRoyal 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...
investigating the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Scandal was a political scandal in Alberta, Canada in 1910. It resulted in the resignation of the provincial government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford over allegations of conflict of interest in the government's involvement in the financing of the Alberta...
.