Dictionary of Glengarry Biography

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====== Richard, Adrien Egbert ====== 
 (5 June 1897-16 Sept. 1978), lawyer and judge. (Adrien E. Richard) Born Dorchester, N. B. Parents: Ambrose David Richard (see //ADDITIONAL NOTE// following) and his wife Elizabeth Holt. Adrien Egbert Richard attended primary and secondary schools in Dorchester, L’Islet Commercial Academy, L’Islet, Que., and Bourget College, Rigaud, just east of GC, and St. Joseph’s College, Saint-Joseph, N. B. From 1920, he attended the school of law which Nova Scotia’s University of King’s College operated at Saint John, N. B., and he received his degree of B. C. L. from the University of King’s College in 1923. In what he later described as post-graduate studies, he studied at the Harvard Law School, 1924-1925. He was called to the bar in N. B. (dates 1923, 1924, 1926 found), and practised law in Saint John, N. B. He was called to the bar of Ontario on 19 June 1930, and practised law at Alexandria (GC) and at Hawkesbury.

<tab>In early Sept. 1932, he and his mother left Alexandria for Hawkesbury, where he was to be a law partner of H. W. Lawlor. From a newspaper article published at this time (//Glengarry News// 9 Sept. 1932), it appears that Richard and his mother had resided in Alexandria ”for the past two years” and that Richard had been associated there with Donald A. Macdonald of the “Sandfield” family in the law firm of Macdonell & Macdonald. The article noted, “Being in politics a Conservative, Mr. Richard was of considerable assistance to our federal member, Mr. Angus McGillis, in his 1930 electoral campaign and has ever since his arrival here taken an active interest in the affairs of his party.” (See Angus McGillis) Donald A. Macdonald was a prominent Liberal, but it was not unusual for a law firm to include people of differing political tendencies, and in fact the Macdonell of the law firm title, the late John A. Macdonell (Jack Greenfield), had been a notable Conservative. The article praised Richard for his “courteous and pleasant manner” in dealing with law clients, and praised him for his volunteer work in making the town tennis club prosper.

<tab>During his time in Alexandria, he must have been the town’s only Harvard man, and his mother its only wife of a provincial government ex-minister.

<tab>After Richard’s Hawkesbury partnership was dissolved in 1938, he practised law on his own. Richard served overseas with the RCAF in World War II and on discharge after service 1940-1946 had the rank of wing commander. He was employed, perhaps with the title of deputy registrar, by the Exchequer Court of Canada (now succeeded by the Federal Court of Canada) in Ottawa from 1956 till he was appointed a judge for Ontario’s county and district courts in 1962. He retired as judge in 1970 or 1975.

<tab>An interest in writing is evident in his career over many years. While still a law student, he worked on the “reportorial staffs” of two newspapers. After this he was a legal reporter on the Montreal //Star// 1925-1928, and probably did political reporting for the paper also, and he was associate mining editor and mining editor on the //Financial Post//, 1928-1930. It is not clear whether he had full-time positions on the two newspapers just named or whether he was just a contributing journalist. He was one of the co-editors 1956-1962 of the //Canada Law Reports: Exchequer Court of Canada//.

<tab>He was married 16 Aug. 1938 to Ethel Needham. (three children) He died in hospital, presumably in Ottawa. He was buried at Dorchester, N. B. Roman Catholic.

<tab>//ADDITIONAL NOTE//: Ambrose David Richard (1849 or 1850-14 Sept. 1917) (Ambroise-D. Richard), the father of the subject of the present entry, practised law in N. B., and as an Acadian is said to have been “the first of his nationality” appointed to the Legislative Council of N. B., where he was a member 1882-1892. He was an elected member of the House of Assembly of N. B. 1895-1899. In the N. B. government Ambrose David Richard served as minister without portfolio and as solicitor general. Ambrose David Richard was registrar of deeds and wills for Westmorland County, N. B. from 1901 till his death. He was a Conservative or Independent Conservative. His widow survived him to die at Saint John, N. B., 21 Feb. 1941, aged 81.


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<fs small>Death notice, //Ottawa Citizen// 18 Sept. 1978 * information kindly supplied by Law Society of Upper Canada Archives, Federal Court of Canada, University of King’s College (Halifax, N. S.), and Harvard University Archives * NAC, personnel file, in RG 32 Vol. 574 File Robert, Adrien E. * D. G. Bell, //Legal Education in New Brunswick: a History// (1992) 112, 212 * biog. sketch in //King’s College Record// (Encaenia 1923) p. 179 * //Harvard Alumni Directory// (1934) 872 * Jean Yves Pelletier, //Nos magistrats// (1989) 116 * appointed judge, //Glengarry News// 25 Oct. 1962 * Ambrose David Richard: information supplied by Legislative Library, N. B.; //Canadian Parliamentary Companion// (1891) 324; C. H. McLean, //Prominent People of New Brunswick// (1937) p. xxxviii; mentioned //Dictionary of Canadian Biography// XIII, 79 & XIV, 587 
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