A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
History
A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
=Johnson, Hon. Francis Godschall=, Judge of the Superior Court of the
Province of Quebec, and senior Judge for the district of Montreal, with
duties of Chief Justice at the court in Montreal, was born at Oakley
House, in Bedfordshire, England, on the 1st of January, 1817. His
father, Godschall Johnson, was an officer in the 10th Royal Hussars
(then known as the Prince of Wales regiment), and his mother Lucy
Bisshopp, was a daughter of Sir Cecil Bisshopp, a prominent man in his
day, and a sister of Colonel Cecil Bisshopp, who lost his life in the
war with the United States in 1812-14, and was buried at Niagara,
Ontario, where his grave can now be seen. The Hon. Judge Johnson
received his education at St. Omer, in France, and at Bruges, in
Belgium, and came to Canada in 1834. He studied law in the office of the
Hon. Justice Day, and was called to the bar in 1839. He began the
practice of his profession in Montreal, and in 1846, before he was
thirty years of age, was appointed a Queen’s counsel. While practising
at the bar this learned judge was noted for his eloquence, and while
acting as Crown prosecutor, his splendid talents showed to the best
advantage. In 1854, he was appointed recorder of Rupert’s Land, and
governor of Assiniboine (now Manitoba), and took up his residence at
Fort Garry, where he resided until 1858, when he returned to Montreal.
Here he resumed the practice of his profession and continued until 1865,
when he received the appointment of judge of the Superior Court, in
which position his fine abilities continue to be shown. Being peculiarly
fitted for the task in consequence of his previous acquaintance with the
country, he was, in 1870, selected by the Dominion government to go to
Manitoba, to assist in the organization and establishment of a regular
system of government there. He did good service to the state, and
remained for about two years—special leave of absence from Quebec
province having been given him—acting as recorder of Rupert’s Land,
until new courts were established, and as commissioner in hearing and
determining the claims made for losses caused during the Riel rebellion
of 1869-70. He returned in 1872, and was appointed lieutenant-governor
of Manitoba, but declined the honour, considering the position
incompatible with the retention of the office of judge. During the time
Judge Johnson was practising in Montreal, he held several offices, and
was secretary of the commission that revised the Statutes of Lower
Canada. He is a member of the Church of England; and was married in
September, 1840, to Mary Gates Jones, daughter of Nathaniel Jones, of
Montreal. This lady died in July, 1853, and left three children. His
second marriage was in March, 1857, to Mary Mills, daughter of John
Melliken Mills, of Somersetshire, England, by whom he has also a family
of three children. Judge Johnson resides in Montreal.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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