VOL. V.
No. 12.
BOSTON.
DECEMBER, 1893.
THE LATE HON. SIR JOHN ABBOTT, K. C. M. G. /"4N the 3Oth of October, 1893, Sir John Throughout his whole public career Mr. ^-^ Abbott, the successor of Sir John Abbott paid special attention to questions Macdonald in the Premiership of Canada, of commercial law, and he was regarded died after a lingering illness at his home in as one of the best commercial lawyers in Montreal. Thus, within the short space of Canada. While he was in the Canadian two years and a half, Canada has lost three Assembly, he prepared the Insolvent Act of her most eminent public men. In 1891 of 1864, which he afterwards published in Sir John Macdonald, her first Premier, and book form with copious and useful notes. probably the most renowned of colonial He also prepared a Jury Law Consolidation statesmen, passed away; and he was soon Act for Lower Canada, besides a number of followed by his great Liberal opponent, Hon. other useful statutes. In 1862 Mr. Abbott Alexander Mackenzie, who had been the was made a Q. C., and the degree of D. C. L. was conferred upon him in. 1867 by McGill Premier from 1873 to 1878. John Joseph Caldwell Abbott was the University. «Idest son of the late Rev. Joseph Abbott, When the union of the Provinces was the first Anglican incumbent of St. Andrews consummated in 1867, it was but natural in the county of Argenteuil, Quebec, and that л public man who had distinguished was born at St. Andrews on the rath day of himself so much in the old assembly should March, 1821. He received his primary edu aspire to a seat in the new Parliament of cation in his native town, after completing Canada. Heaccordingly placed himself once which he entered McGill University, Mont more in the hands of his old constituents, real. In 1847 Mr. Abbott was called to the and was elected to the House of Commons Bar of Quebec, then Lower Canada, and in 1867. He was re-elected for the same con began the practice of his profession in Mont stituency in 1872 and 1874, but was unseated real, where in a short time he became a shortly after the latter election, and was leading advocate. He began his political not again successful in carrying the county career as a Liberal, and it is well known that until 1880. He was again elected in 1882. his name was signed to the famous annexa During his later years in the House of tion manifesto of 1849. That manifesto he Commons he made few speeches. He was himself afterwards described as " the out chairman for many years of the Committee growth of an outburst of petulance in a small of Banking and Commerce, —a position portion of the population of the province of as responsible as a seat in the Cabinet, inas •Quebec, which is among the most loyal of much as many of the most important mat the provinces of Canada." He was first ters coming before Parliament are referred returned to the Canadian Assembly by his to this committee for close investigation. In May, 1887, Hon. Mr. Abbott was ap native county in the general elections of 1857, and he continued to hold the seat until pointed a member of the Privy Council of 1867. For a short time during this period Canada, and was translated to the Senate, he occupied the portfolio of Solicitor-General where he became Government leader. He discharged the functions of that position for Lower Canada. 68
