Aaron Ezekiel Hart
Encyclopedia
Aaron Ezekiel Hart was a Canadian
Jewish barrister
, lawyer
, militia
officer
, office-holder
, and son of Ezekiel Hart. He was the first Jewish lawyer in British North America
, and the first Jew to be called to the bar
in Canada.
Aaron Ezekiel Hart was born June 24, 1803 in Trois-Rivières
, Lower Canada
to Ezekiel Hart and Frances Lazarus.
In 1824, at the age of 21, he was the first Jew to be called to the bar in either of the Canadas
. His singular position was short-lived, however, since the following month a distant cousin, Thomas Storrs Judah, was similarly called, as was Thomas’s brother, Henry Hague Judah
, four years later. His cousin Aaron Philip Hart, son of Benjamin Hart
, was admitted to the profession in 1830, his future brothers-in-law Eleazar David David
and Moses Samuel David in 1832 and 1837, and his own brother Adolphus Hart
in 1836.
He first filed claims against some censitaires
of the seigneury
of Bélair, and then from 1825 to 1833 frequently worked as counsel for Moses Hart
in court.
On December 21, 1826, Hart became an ensign
in Quebec’s 3rd Militia Battalion. He was made a lieutenant
in the 2nd Battalion of Quebec County militia on March 17, 1831, and then captain on June 4. Finally, on April 1, 1857 he was appointed major
of the 1st Battalion of Saint-Maurice militia. The American Jewish Historical Society
has a record of his admission to the Société pour l’Encouragement des Sciences et des Arts en Canada on June 14, 1827 and to the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
on March 17, 1831.
In 1836 he transmitted the challenge to a duel from Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
, a member of the House of Assembly for Richelieu
, to Charles-Ovide Perrault, the young member for Vaudreuil
, who would lose his life the following year at the battle of Saint-Denis
on the Richelieu
.
On November 1, 1849, he married Phoebe David. After practising at Quebec
for many years, he settled in Trois-Rivières
. In July 1852, John Beverley Robinson
appointed him commissioner for receiving affidavits in Lower Canada. He was very attached to his father, Ezekiel, as well as to the Jewish community, and he was a faithful member of the Montreal synagogue
, to which he gave financial support.
Aaron Ezekiel Hart died September 26, 1857, at the age of 54. He was buried in the Prison Street cemetery at Trois-Rivières, but his remains were reinterred, stone still intact, in the cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Montreal, in 1909.
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...
Jewish barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, lawyer
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...
, militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, office-holder
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, and son of Ezekiel Hart. He was the first Jewish lawyer in British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
, and the first Jew to be called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in Canada.
Aaron Ezekiel Hart was born June 24, 1803 in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
, Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
to Ezekiel Hart and Frances Lazarus.
In 1824, at the age of 21, he was the first Jew to be called to the bar in either of the Canadas
The Canadas
The Canadas is the collective name for Upper Canada and Lower Canada, two British colonies in Canada. They were both created by the Constitutional Act of 1791 and abolished in 1841 with the union of Upper and Lower Canada....
. His singular position was short-lived, however, since the following month a distant cousin, Thomas Storrs Judah, was similarly called, as was Thomas’s brother, Henry Hague Judah
Henry Judah
Henry Hague Judah , was a lawyer and political figure in Canada East. Judah was among the first Jews to become attorneys in early Canada; the first was a distant cousin, Aaron Ezekiel Hart, son of Ezekiel Hart, called to the bar in 1824.Judah was born in London in 1808...
, four years later. His cousin Aaron Philip Hart, son of Benjamin Hart
Benjamin Hart (businessman)
Benjamin Hart was a Canadian businessman, militia officer, and justice of the peace.-Early life:Benjamin Hart was born in Montreal to Aaron Hart, a prominent merchant of Trois-Rivières, and Dorothea Judah....
, was admitted to the profession in 1830, his future brothers-in-law Eleazar David David
Eleazar David David
Eleazar David David was a Canadian cavalry officer, lawyer, and civil servant. He was the son of Samuel David, and grandson of Aaron Hart.-Early life:...
and Moses Samuel David in 1832 and 1837, and his own brother Adolphus Hart
Adolphus Hart
Adolphus Mordecai Hart was a Canadian lawyer and author, son of Ezekiel Hart.-Biography:Adolphus Hart was born in Trois-Rivières to Ezekiel Hart and Frances Lazarus....
in 1836.
He first filed claims against some censitaires
Habitants
Habitants is the name used to refer to both the French settlers and the inhabitants of French origin who farmed the land along the two shores of the St. Lawrence Gulf and River in what is the present-day Province of Quebec in Canada...
of the seigneury
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
of Bélair, and then from 1825 to 1833 frequently worked as counsel for Moses Hart
Moses Hart
Moses Hart was a Canadian businessman and seigneur, eldest son of Aaron Hart.-Early life:Moses Hart was born in Trois-Rivières to Aaron Hart and Dorothea Judah....
in court.
On December 21, 1826, Hart became an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in Quebec’s 3rd Militia Battalion. He was made a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 2nd Battalion of Quebec County militia on March 17, 1831, and then captain on June 4. Finally, on April 1, 1857 he was appointed major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
of the 1st Battalion of Saint-Maurice militia. The American Jewish Historical Society
American Jewish Historical Society
The American Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1892 with the mission to foster awareness and appreciation of the American Jewish heritage and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials relating to American...
has a record of his admission to the Société pour l’Encouragement des Sciences et des Arts en Canada on June 14, 1827 and to the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
-External links:*, managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.*, virtual exhibit on the history of Canadian learned societies.*, virtual library containing all publications from 1824-1924....
on March 17, 1831.
In 1836 he transmitted the challenge to a duel from Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
Lieutenant Colonel Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury was a Canadian soldier, lawyer, politician and newspaper founder.-Early life:...
, a member of the House of Assembly for Richelieu
Richelieu (provincial electoral district)
Richelieu is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montérégie region, the district was created in 1792. Between 1936 and 1944, it was part of the defunct riding of Richelieu-Vercheres...
, to Charles-Ovide Perrault, the young member for Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil (provincial electoral district)
Vaudreuil is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1988 from a part of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. It includes the cities of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Hudson and Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot...
, who would lose his life the following year at the battle of Saint-Denis
Battle of Saint-Denis (1837)
The Battle of St. Denis was fought on November 22, 1837 between British colonial authorities under Lieutenant-Colonel Gore and Lower Canada rebels. The rebels were victoriously led by Wolfred Nelson.- See also :*Lower Canada Rebellion...
on the Richelieu
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
.
On November 1, 1849, he married Phoebe David. After practising at Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
for many years, he settled in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
. In July 1852, John Beverley Robinson
John Beverley Robinson
John Beverley Robinson was elected mayor of Toronto in 1856. He was the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Ontario between the years 1880–1887....
appointed him commissioner for receiving affidavits in Lower Canada. He was very attached to his father, Ezekiel, as well as to the Jewish community, and he was a faithful member of the Montreal synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, to which he gave financial support.
Aaron Ezekiel Hart died September 26, 1857, at the age of 54. He was buried in the Prison Street cemetery at Trois-Rivières, but his remains were reinterred, stone still intact, in the cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Montreal, in 1909.