A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose
1887. He was a son of John Torrance, in his lifetime one of the leading
908 words | Chapter 85
merchants of Montreal. Judge Torrance received his primary education at
private schools at Montreal, at the Nicolet College, and at Edinburgh
under private tutors; and finally entered the University of Edinburgh,
where he took the degree of M.A. in 1844, ranking second in the order of
proficiency in classics and mathematics. He had previously, in 1839-40,
followed courses of lectures at Paris, France, at the Ecole de Médecine
and at the Collège de France. He studied law with the late Duncan
Fisher, Q.C., and the Hon. James Smith, subsequently attorney-general
for Lower Canada, and a judge of the Queen’s Bench. In 1848 he was
called to the bar of Lower Canada. In 1852 he formed a partnership with
Alexander Morris, who afterwards for a time filled the position of chief
justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba—the firm being known
as Torrance and Morris. In 1861, Hon. Mr. Morris having entered the
political arena, was elected to represent South Lanark in the
Legislative Assembly, and shortly afterwards removed to the province of
Ontario. He was succeeded in the firm by his brother, J. L. Morris. On
27th August, 1868, Mr. Torrance was appointed a puisne judge of the
Superior Court of Quebec, and from that time until his death earned for
himself the reputation of an eminent jurist, and an upright, careful and
painstaking judge. His decisions in business matters were always
considered of great value, on account of his extensive experience in
commercial law while practising at the bar. Judge Torrance was lecturer
and professor of Roman law in McGill University (of which he was
governor, and from which he obtained the degree of B.C.L. in 1856) from
1854 to 1870. In 1865, he was one of the commissioners appointed to
enquire into the St. Albans raid affair, and did good service. In
conjunction with Strachan Bethune, Q.C., J. L. Morris, and the late Mr.
La Franaie, he brought out the _Lower Canada Jurist_, to which he
contributed for many years. He was intimately connected with the Fraser
Institute, and with the Hon. J. J. C. Abbott devoted much of his time
towards establishing a free library in connection therewith. In religion
Judge Torrance was a staunch Presbyterian, and he took a deep interest
in all things relating to that church. He was president of the
Presbyterian Sabbath-school Association, and after being connected with
the Coté Street Church, Montreal, for many years, he became an elder of
Crescent Street Church, which position he held at the time of his death.
He contributed materially to the foundation of the Montreal Presbyterian
College, and always took a lively interest in its welfare. He was also a
life governor of the Montreal General Hospital. He subscribed largely to
the general fund of the Home and Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian
church. He took special interest in the missions to the Jews. He always
identified himself enthusiastically with Sabbath-school work. He was
known as a generous, kind-hearted and public-spirited citizen, and his
death was deeply regretted by a large number of personal friends and the
whole community, by whom he was held in great esteem. Some ten years ago
he married Mrs. Pugh, of Louisville, Ky. He left a widow, but had no
children. Judge Torrance was not reputed to be very wealthy, but during
his lifetime his donations to the institutions with which he was
connected were large and numerous.
* * * * *
=Thomson, Donald Cameron=, Lieutenant-Colonel, Lumber Merchant, Quebec,
one of the most esteemed and successful men of business in the ancient
capital, was born in 1823, at Kenlochiel House, near St. Andrew’s,
county of Argenteuil, province of Quebec. His father served as a
commissariat officer during the war of 1812; and his mother belonged to
the family of Lochiel. In 1860, when the _Trent_ outrage aroused the
loyalty of Canada’s sons, Mr. Thomson raised a company of volunteers,
and was attached to the battalion commanded by Lieut.-Col. De Salaberry,
and on the latter retiring from the service, Captain Thomson was
promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and given command of the
battalion. He was out during the Fenian troubles, and subsequently
retired retaining his rank. For a number of years Colonel Thomson has
been actively engaged, and still continues, in the export trade of
timber to Britain, etc. He took a prominent part in the creation of the
Union Bank of Canada, at Quebec, as well as in the formation of several
commercial companies connected with river navigation. At present he is a
director of the Union Bank of Canada; vice-president of the Quebec
Steamship Company; president of the Saguenay & Lake St. John Railway
Company; director of the St. Lawrence Steamboat Company; and director of
the Quebec Ferry Company. A lover of sport Col. Thomson divides his
summer vacation between the secluded salmon pools of the Murray river,
leased to him, and his rustic cottage at Pointe-à-Pic, Murray Bay. Later
on one may meet him scouring for cariboo, with an Indian guide, the
snow-clad heights in rear of Baie St. Paul, known as Les Jardins. In
politics the colonel may be counted among the Liberal-Conservatives, and
in religion an adherent of the Presbyterian church. He is married to
Annie Atkinson, niece of the late Henry Atkinson, of Spencerwood.
* * * * *
=Oulton, Alfred E.=, Dorchester, Judge of Probate for the county of
Westmoreland, New Brunswick, was born in Westmoreland, on the 2nd March,
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