George Irvine (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
George Irvine was a Quebec
lawyer, judge, professor and political figure. He represented Mégantic
in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
from 1867 to 1876 and from 1878 to 1884 and in the 1st Canadian Parliament
as a Conservative
.
He was born in Quebec City
in 1826, the son of Lt.-Colonel John George Irvine (1802-1871) of Quebec, and a grandson of James Irvine
and Mathew Bell
. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1848. He taught commercial law at Morrin College
. He served on the municipal council for Quebec City from 1859 to 1862. Irvine was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Mégantic in 1863. In 1867, he was elected to both the federal and provincial assemblies; he was named solicitor general in the Quebec cabinet
, serving in that post from 1867 to 1873. He was named Queen's Counsel
in 1868. Irvine served attorney general for the province from 1873 to 1874. In 1876, he resigned from his seat in the Quebec assembly to serve as commissioner for the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway. He was president of the Quebec Bar from 1872 to 1873 and from 1884 to 1885. Irvine also served as chancellor for Bishop's College
from 1875 to 1878. He resigned from the provincial assembly in 1884 to accept an appointment as judge in the Court of Vice-Admiralty
in the Quebec district; in 1891, he was named to the Exchequer Court in the same district.
He died in Quebec City in 1897.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
lawyer, judge, professor and political figure. He represented Mégantic
Mégantic (provincial electoral district)
Mégantic was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Estrie region, it was created in 1867. After the 1970 elections, it was merged with Compton to create the new riding of Mégantic-Compton...
in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
from 1867 to 1876 and from 1878 to 1884 and in the 1st Canadian Parliament
1st Canadian Parliament
The 1st Canadian Parliament was in session from November 6, 1867 until July 8, 1872. The membership was set by the 1867 federal election from August 7 to September 20, 1867, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was prorogued prior to the 1872 election.It was...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
.
He was born in Quebec City
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...
in 1826, the son of Lt.-Colonel John George Irvine (1802-1871) of Quebec, and a grandson of James Irvine
James Irvine (Quebec businessman)
Lt.-Colonel The Hon. James Irvine J.P., M.P. was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.James Irvine was born in England in 1766, the son of Adam Irvine and Elizabeth , daughter of John Johnston , 4th laird of Outbrecks, Orkney...
and Mathew Bell
Mathew Bell
Mathew Bell was a seigneur, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Matthew....
. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1848. He taught commercial law at Morrin College
Morrin College
Morrin College, the first anglophone institute of higher education in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada flourished between the years 1862 and 1902. It was founded following an important bequest from Dr. Joseph Morrin, former city mayor and prominent doctor. The College initially occupied rooms rented...
. He served on the municipal council for Quebec City from 1859 to 1862. Irvine was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for Mégantic in 1863. In 1867, he was elected to both the federal and provincial assemblies; he was named solicitor general in the Quebec cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, serving in that post from 1867 to 1873. He was named 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 1868. Irvine served attorney general for the province from 1873 to 1874. In 1876, he resigned from his seat in the Quebec assembly to serve as commissioner for the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway. He was president of the Quebec Bar from 1872 to 1873 and from 1884 to 1885. Irvine also served as chancellor for Bishop's College
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
from 1875 to 1878. He resigned from the provincial assembly in 1884 to accept an appointment as judge in the Court of Vice-Admiralty
Vice admiralty court
Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. Judges were given 5% of confiscated cargo, if they found a smuggling defendant guilty...
in the Quebec district; in 1891, he was named to the Exchequer Court in the same district.
He died in Quebec City in 1897.