Adolphus Hart
Encyclopedia
Adolphus Mordecai Hart (April 11, 1814 - March 23, 1879) was a Canadian
lawyer
and author
, son of Ezekiel Hart.
to Ezekiel Hart and Frances Lazarus.
He took up the study of law and spent part of his time as a law clerk
in the office of the attorney general of Lower Canada
, Charles Richard Ogden
. He was admitted to the Bar of Lower Canada on May 19, 1836. Along with his uncle Benjamin Hart
and Benjamin's son Aaron Philip Hart, Adolphus Hart took part in the movement of the 1830s to obtain equal rights for Jews in Lower Canada, in particular to make it possible for Jews to take the oath as a justice of the peace by omitting the phrase "on the true faith of a Christian". A law of 1832 granting Jews rights and privileges came under question, and the House of Assembly in 1834 formed a special committee to consider this legislation.
While he was still a student, Hart also lodged a complaint in 1836 before the assembly, through Bartholomew Gugy
, against the conduct of Judge Edward Bowen
. His complaint had some justification but was said to have been presented in such an exaggerated manner that the assembly would not pursue the case. Louis-Michel Viger
and Amable Berthelot
were authorized to make an inquiry. On March 10, 1836 the committee on grievances found the judge guilty.
Hart's family home was in Trois-Rivières. Louis-Joseph Papineau
came there to dinner in 1836, a significant occasion for nearly all the respectable English citizens of the town refused the invitation. Hart established a practice in the aftermath of the disturbances of 1837–38, and he defended several persons associated with them. In 1837, during the trial of "a rebel," he was fined for contempt of court. In 1839 he pleaded for Joseph-Guillaume Barthe
, law student and journalist, and Richard Cook, saddler, both of Trois-Rivières, who were arrested for publicizing an address to the exiles of Bermuda.
In the early 1840s Adolphus Hart was living in Montreal and was a member of the Jewish synagogue. In 1846 he appears as an ensign
in the 3rd battalion of militia. On December 12, 1844 he had married Constance Hatton Hart, daughter of his uncle Benjamin Hart; they had three daughters and two sons, one of whom, Gerald Ephraim Hart, became known as a historian, bibliophile, and numismatist. Constance Hart was the author of Household receipts or Domestic Cookery by "A Montreal Lady" which had a second edition in 1867.
Hart went to the United States in 1850. He was active in the Democratic party
in New York
, assisting with literature for the gubernatorial campaign of Horatio Seymour
in 1854. He also wrote a number of works from 1850 onwards. Among these was a History of the discovery of the valley of the Mississippi (1852), one of the early discussions of this subject. In 1854 came Uncle Tom in Paris: views of slavery outside the cabin. He wrote also, under his own name or pseudonymously, on such topics as paper money and the liquor question. This writing activity was continued after he returned to Canada in 1857 and resumed his legal practice in Montreal.
Adolphus Hart suffered a stroke while pleading a case in court and died a few days later. The entire Montreal bar and most of the bench joined the escort for the body to the station, and the bar observed a month of mourning for him. At his funeral in Trois-Rivières, Alexander Abraham de Sola officiated.
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
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 author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, son of Ezekiel Hart.
Biography
Adolphus Hart was born in Trois-RivièresTrois-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...
to Ezekiel Hart and Frances Lazarus.
He took up the study of law and spent part of his time as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
in the office of the attorney general of 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...
, Charles Richard Ogden
Charles Richard Ogden
Charles Richard Ogden was a Joint Premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East from 1842 with William Henry Draper PM for Canada West. Odgen was a member of the Château Clique....
. He was admitted to the Bar of Lower Canada on May 19, 1836. Along with his uncle Benjamin Hart
Benjamin Hart
Benjamin Hart is an English actor best known for his roles as Foz in British soap Hollyoaks, and as Adam Rhodes in Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Early career:...
and Benjamin's son Aaron Philip Hart, Adolphus Hart took part in the movement of the 1830s to obtain equal rights for Jews in Lower Canada, in particular to make it possible for Jews to take the oath as a justice of the peace by omitting the phrase "on the true faith of a Christian". A law of 1832 granting Jews rights and privileges came under question, and the House of Assembly in 1834 formed a special committee to consider this legislation.
While he was still a student, Hart also lodged a complaint in 1836 before the assembly, through Bartholomew Gugy
Bartholomew Gugy
Bartholomew Conrad Augustus Gugy was a Seigneur and Political figure in Lower Canada who played a prominent military role in the Lower Canada Rebellion.-Early life:...
, against the conduct of Judge Edward Bowen
Edward Bowen (politician)
Edward Bowen was an Irish-born lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada. He was the 1st Chief Justice of the Superior Court for the Province of Quebec, and the 2nd Chancellor of Bishop's University.-Life:...
. His complaint had some justification but was said to have been presented in such an exaggerated manner that the assembly would not pursue the case. Louis-Michel Viger
Louis-Michel Viger
Louis-Michel Viger was a Quebec lawyer, businessman, seigneur and political figure.He was born in Montreal in 1785 and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël at the same time as his cousin, Louis-Joseph Papineau. He articled in law with his cousin, Denis-Benjamin Viger, was admitted to the bar in...
and Amable Berthelot
Amable Berthelot
Amable Berthelot was a Quebec lawyer, author and political figure.He was born in Quebec City in 1777, the son of Michel-Amable Berthelot Dartigny, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec. He articled in law with Jean-Antoine Panet, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and set up practice at...
were authorized to make an inquiry. On March 10, 1836 the committee on grievances found the judge guilty.
Hart's family home was in Trois-Rivières. Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
came there to dinner in 1836, a significant occasion for nearly all the respectable English citizens of the town refused the invitation. Hart established a practice in the aftermath of the disturbances of 1837–38, and he defended several persons associated with them. In 1837, during the trial of "a rebel," he was fined for contempt of court. In 1839 he pleaded for Joseph-Guillaume Barthe
Joseph-Guillaume Barthe
Joseph-Guillaume Barthe was a lawyer, journalist and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Carleton, Lower Canada in 1818 and studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. He first studied medicine with doctor René-Joseph Kimber, then law with Edward Barnard and was called to the bar in 1840...
, law student and journalist, and Richard Cook, saddler, both of Trois-Rivières, who were arrested for publicizing an address to the exiles of Bermuda.
In the early 1840s Adolphus Hart was living in Montreal and was a member of the Jewish synagogue. In 1846 he appears as 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 the 3rd battalion of militia. On December 12, 1844 he had married Constance Hatton Hart, daughter of his uncle Benjamin Hart; they had three daughters and two sons, one of whom, Gerald Ephraim Hart, became known as a historian, bibliophile, and numismatist. Constance Hart was the author of Household receipts or Domestic Cookery by "A Montreal Lady" which had a second edition in 1867.
Hart went to the United States in 1850. He was active in the Democratic party
New York State Democratic Committee
The New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, assisting with literature for the gubernatorial campaign of Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in the presidential election of 1868, but lost the election to Republican and former Union General of...
in 1854. He also wrote a number of works from 1850 onwards. Among these was a History of the discovery of the valley of the Mississippi (1852), one of the early discussions of this subject. In 1854 came Uncle Tom in Paris: views of slavery outside the cabin. He wrote also, under his own name or pseudonymously, on such topics as paper money and the liquor question. This writing activity was continued after he returned to Canada in 1857 and resumed his legal practice in Montreal.
Adolphus Hart suffered a stroke while pleading a case in court and died a few days later. The entire Montreal bar and most of the bench joined the escort for the body to the station, and the bar observed a month of mourning for him. At his funeral in Trois-Rivières, Alexander Abraham de Sola officiated.