John Evans Adamson (1884-1961)

Lawyer, judge.

Born at Nelson, Manitoba on 9 September 1884, son of Alan Joseph Adamson and Julia Turriff, he was educated at Manitoba public schools, Manitoba and Saskatchewan High Schools, St. John’s College, University of Manitoba (where he won the Governor General’s Gold Medal for philosophy), and Osgoode Hall (Toronto). He was a law student with Hugg & Kelley, 1907; Munson, Allan, Laird & Davis; Aikins, Robson, Fullerton & Coyne, Winnipeg. He was called to the Manitoba Bar and commenced practice of law in 1910. In 1911, he was Barrister-at-law, 24 Royal Bank Building, 460 Main Street, Winnipeg.

He was a candidate in the Liberal interest for the Manitoba Legislature in the election of 1921, and was appointed to the Court of King’s Bench in May 1922. He became Chief Justice of Manitoba in 1954, the first native Manitoban to hold the post. He served until 1961, when an amendment to the British North America Act forced him to retire against his will. In 1955 he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Manitoba.

He married Mary Turriff, with whom he had three daughters. In 1911, he lived at 161 Mayfair Avenue, Winnipeg. By 1925, he lived at 52 Kingsway Avenue, Winnipeg. He was a member of the St. Charles Country Club, Carleton Club, Western Canada Military Institute, and the AF & AM. He enjoyed golf, hunting, motoring, and travelling. Anglican.

He died on 22 December 1961. He is commemorated by Adamson Street in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, 1911. C. W. Parker, editor. Canadian Press Association, Vancouver.

The Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, 1870-1950: A Biographical History by Dale Brawn, Toronto: Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, 2006, 432 pages.

Profile revised: 28 August 2009

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