William Glenholme Falconbridge
Encyclopedia
Sir William Glenholme Falconbridge, QC
(May 12, 1846 – February 8, 1920) was a Canadian
lawyer and judge in Ontario
.
Born in Drummondville (now Niagara Falls, Ontario
), Upper Canada
, he was the son of John Kennedy Falconbridge, an Irish
immigrant, and Sarah Fralick. Falconbridge studied at the Richmond Hill grammar school, Barrie grammar school, and at the Model Grammar School in Toronto
. He received a BA
degree in 1866 from University College, University of Toronto
. He served as the chair of modern languages at Yarmouth Seminary in Nova Scotia
for his health and then returned to Toronto where he was a lecturer in Spanish and Italian at University College. At the same time, he studied law with the law firm firm Morphy, Sullivan, and Fenton. He also studied with the firm of Patton, Osler, and Moss before being called to the Ontario Bar in 1871. He practiced law in the firm of Harrison, Osler, and Moss. In 1879, he was made a partner of the firm.
In 1870, he received an MA
degree from the University of Toronto and was registrar of the University from 1872 to 1881. In 1873, he married Mary Phoebe, the daughter of Robert Baldwin Sullivan
. He was made a bencher
of the Law Society of Upper Canada
and created a Queen's Counsel
in 1885.
In 1887, he was appointed a judge in the Queen’s Bench division of Ontario’s High Court of Justice. In 1900, he was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench, High Court of Justice of the Province of Ontario.
In 1908, he was made a Knight Bachelor
.
Falconbridge died of pneumonia
in Toronto at the age of 73. The geographic township of Falconbridge was named in his honour.
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...
(May 12, 1846 – February 8, 1920) 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 and judge in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Born in Drummondville (now Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
), 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 the son of John Kennedy Falconbridge, an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrant, and Sarah Fralick. Falconbridge studied at the Richmond Hill grammar school, Barrie grammar school, and at the Model Grammar School in 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...
. He received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1866 from University College, University of Toronto
University College, University of Toronto
University College is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, created in 1853 specifically as an institution of higher learning free of religious affiliation. It was the founding member of the university's modern collegiate system, and its secularism contrasted with contemporary...
. He served as the chair of modern languages at Yarmouth Seminary 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...
for his health and then returned to Toronto where he was a lecturer in Spanish and Italian at University College. At the same time, he studied law with the law firm firm Morphy, Sullivan, and Fenton. He also studied with the firm of Patton, Osler, and Moss before being called to the Ontario Bar in 1871. He practiced law in the firm of Harrison, Osler, and Moss. In 1879, he was made a partner of the firm.
In 1870, he received an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the University of Toronto and was registrar of the University from 1872 to 1881. In 1873, he married Mary Phoebe, the daughter of Robert Baldwin Sullivan
Robert Baldwin Sullivan
Robert Baldwin Sullivan, QC , was a Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician who became the 2nd Mayor of Toronto....
. He was made a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of 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"...
and created 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...
in 1885.
In 1887, he was appointed a judge in the Queen’s Bench division of Ontario’s High Court of Justice. In 1900, he was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench, High Court of Justice of the Province of Ontario.
In 1908, 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...
.
Falconbridge died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Toronto at the age of 73. The geographic township of Falconbridge was named in his honour.