Barrister-at-law and County Crown Attorney, Hamilton, Canada, was born at Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1836. His father was a mechanic, possessed of great natural talent, had strong literary tastes, and was a well-known contributor in his own locality, to the journals of his day. Though long dead, his "sayings and doings" are still often quoted in the "reminiscence" columns of the Perthshire newspapers. Our subject was the eldest of five sons, all living with one exception, and occupying prominent positions. One is a well-known divine in the Free Church of Scotland (the Rev. Thomas Crerar, M. A. of Leith). This divine has contributed to the literature of Scotland several valuable translations from the German writers on theological subjects. Our subject was educated partly in his native town and partly at the famous "Madras College" of St. Andrew's. He entered a Scotch law office at an early age, but after three years' study he gave up the law, and entered the service of the old Perth Bank, whence he joined the ill-fated City of Glasgow Bank, in Edinburgh. In 1857, he was induced by the late T. M. Daly, of Stratford (a relation by marriage) then M.P. for Perth in the old Parliament of Canada, to come to this country. In the fall of 1857 he received an appointment in the Bank of Montreal. Here he remained for ten years. In 1864, while stationed in the Bank of Montreal, at London, he married Miss Hope, eldest daughter of the late Hon. Adam Hope, Senator of the Dominion. In 1866, at Mr. Hope's suggestion, Mr. Crerar abandoned banking and commenced life afresh, as a law student, in the office of E.J. Parke, Barrister, London, C.W. Subsequently he studied with S. B. Freeman, at Hamilton, and with R.A. Harrison, afterwards Chief Justice, at Toronto. Mr. Crerar carried off the first Law scholarship at Osgoode Hall, in each year of his course; and in 1871 opened his office as a barrister, in Hamilton, where he resided, and was the senior partner of the firm of Crerar, Muir & Crerar, Barristers, &c. He was solicitor for various corporations including the Molsons Bank, in that city, and the firm were reputed to do a large and lucrative law business. From 1872 to 1880 our subject became widely known as an active and trusted member of the Liberal party in politics. Notably a man who has the courage of his opinions, his political platform was rigidly defined and uncompromising. A student, con amore, of political economy, he was ever a pronounced Free-trader of the Cobden and Bright school. Thoroughly familiar with the literature of free-trade, he plunged into the parliamentary campaign of 1878 with singular enthusiasm, and through the press and on a score of platforms throughout Ontario he publicly analysed from the scientific economical point of view propounded by the recognized authorities of Free trade and Protection, the new dogma called the National Policy. His efforts were recognized by the press of his party as an exposition of trade principles from the Free trade standpoint which for thoroughness and ability were not excelled by those of any platform orator on the Liberal side during that memorable contest. In 1881 Mr. Crerar was appointed County Crown Attorney for the County of Wentworth, which necessarily precluded him from further active work in politics, and it is supposed that he accepted the position with that result specially in view. He was a powerful debater and a man of intense convictions. His views on public questions were given in a way to indicate that the speaker is absolutely indifferent whether these views are popular or unpopular. He served for a time as an alderman in Hamilton City Council, where his uncompromising method of dealing with city affairs, purely upon their merits, was fully recognized. Mr. Crerar was a man of prepossessing appearance and possessed many social accomplishments. Himself an actor of great versatility he founded the celebrated "Garrick Club" of Hamilton, of which he became president, a dramatic association whose productions on the stage, on behalf of the charitable institutions of that city, were always excellent. In the social meetings of the members of his profession, "bar-dinners", our subject was always a prominent figure, his post-prandial speeches being singularly happy and amusing. He was a Freemason.

The following biography of John Crerar was sent to us by David Crerar & Julia Lawn & Harry Crerar.

E-Mail: Julia & David <jeldac@shaw.ca>

Address: 1368 West 21st Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7P 2E2 CANADA

Phone/Fax: 604 990 8742 / 604 990 8743

1. JOHN CRERAR, Q.C. (b. 24 March 1836 Crieff- d.8 May 1904 Hamilton) = Jessie Anne HOPE (b.?-d.1920 Hamilton) [n.b. not in Crieff OPR].

John, the eldest son of Alexander Crerar and Margaret Edgar, was educated in Crieff and at Madras College, St.Andrews. No school records survive of that time. He entered a Scottish law office at an early age, but after three years' study he gave up the law. He entered the service of the old Perth Bank and was afterwards employed in the ill-fated City of Glasgow Bank. During these years he met T.M. Daly, a Canadian member of the assembly and relative by marriage. Daly urged him to emigrate to the new world.

Coming to Canada in 1857, he joined the Bank of Montreal. He worked for the Bank for ten years, and was stationed in Guelph, Montreal, London, Peterborough and Hamilton. Encouraged by his father-in-law, he resigned in 1866 to enter in the study of law. He clerked in the office of E.J. Parke, Barrister, London. Later he studied with S. B. Freeman, at Hamilton, and with R.A. Harrison, afterwards Chief Justice, at Toronto. He carried off the first Law Scholarship at Osgoode Hall in each year of the course, was called to the bar 1871 and practiced his profession in Hamilton. At the time of the 1871 census he was living in St.Patricks Ward, Hamilton, with his wife and three children [1871 Census, v.1, p.28].

In 1876 John Crerar was counsel for Michael McConnell, the last prisoner to be tried for murder at Hamiltons old stone Court House. In spite of a plea of insanity by the prisoners counsel, John Crerar, supported by testimony of experts, Crown Counsel James Shaw Sinclair assisted by the celebrated B.B. Osler obtained a verdict of guilty and McConnell was sentenced to be hanged on March 14, 1876 [Campbell, A Mountain and a City, McLelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1966, 157]. By 1875 John had formed what became the prominent firm of Crerar & Muir, with office at the intersection of King and Hughson Streets. In 1871 the firms mortgages became the subject of a cited judicial reference [Re.Crerar and Muir (1879), 8 P.R. 56]. That same year John helped to found the Hamilton Law Association. In 1881 he was appointed Crown Attorney and Clerk of the Peace for the County of Wentworth. In 1885 he won, on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, the case of Long v. Hancock (1884), 12 O.A.R. 137, revd (1885), 12 S.C.R. 532, concerning a chattel mortgage. At that time his law firm was known as Crerar, Muir and Crerar.

He was made a Q.C. by the Ontario Government 1890. In 1892 he won on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada a patent dispute of Penman Manufacturing Co. v. Broadhead (1892), 21 S.C.R. 713. By 1896 the firms name had changed to Crerar, Crerar and Bankier, located at 239 McNab. He was solicitor for various corporations including the Molsons Bank, in that city, and the firm was reputed to do a large and lucrative law business. His was famous for his "happy and amusing" "post-prandial" speeches at "bar-dinners", social meetings of the members of his profession.

Like his brother, his efforts went beyond the legal profession. John had a keen love of drama, founding the Garrick Theatrical Club, Canadas first little theatre, in 1875. It enjoyed a good reputation until its disbandment at the start of the First World War. John himself was described as "an actor of great versatility". John was also active in the St.Johns Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, and was honourary president of the St. Andrews Benevolent Society. He was also a major figure, with his wife, in the Hamilton Historic Association, and contributed towards the raising of a monument on the site of the 1812 Battle of Stoney Creek, near Hamilton. John was a member of the Liberal party, though less prominent in political machinations than his brother. The prime political cause he espoused was that of free trade, letters in support of which he wrote to several publications [letters in Week Journal 1892 Oct, Dec; 1893 Jan; 1896 April]. His biographical sketch describes his activism: "Thoroughly familiar with the literature of free-trade, he plunged into the parliamentary campaign of 1878 with singular enthusiasm, and through the press and on a score of platforms throughout Ontario he publicly analysed from the scientific economical point of view propounded by the recognized authorities of Free trade and Protection, the new dogma called the National Policy. His efforts were recognized by the press of his party as an exposition of trade principles from the Free trade standpoint which for thoroughness and ability were not excelled by those of any platform orator on the Liberal side during that memorable contest." Up to 1881 he served for a time as an alderman in Hamilton City Council, "where his uncompromising method of dealing with city affairs, purely upon their merits, was fully recognized."

He married on 10 November 1864 Jessie Anne, the eldest daughter of the Honourable Adam Hope of Hamilton (born 8 Jan 1813 West Fenton, East Lothian, Scotland; died 7 August 1882 Hamilton) and Hannah White (married 1840). Hope had immigrated to Scotland in 1834 and had quickly amassed a fortune as a merchant. He was appointed to the Canadian senate under the brief Mackenzie government [Dictionary of Hamilton Bio., v.1]. In her youth, Jessie kept a diary. On 14 September 1860 she wrote the longest and most exciting entry, which opens: The Grand Ball has been and past and I have had the high and distinguished honour of dancing (note it well) with H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Heir Apparent to the Throne of Great Britain. Jessie served as president of the Hamilton Womens Historical Society and like her sister-in-law Marion, was active in the community [Bibliographies of Women, v.16, 41]

The chief Crerar residence was Merksworth, a big limestone house on Herkimer Street, Hamilton [The Canadian Men and Women of the Time, Henry James Morgan, 1898]. On 8 May 1904 he passed away, and was buried in the Hamilton Cemetery [Dictionary of Hamilton Bio., v.1; (Ont.Arch #935, #030700-04)].