Date Published:
June 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Charles Joseph Doherty

DOHERTY, Right Hon. Charles Joseph, P.C., K.C., D.C.L., LL.D., B.C.L. - Advocate, 180 St. James Street, Montreal. Minister of justice, Borden and Meighen Governments, Oct., 1911, to Sept. 2, 1921, when he retired; Director, Montreal City and District Savings Bank. Born Montreal, May 11, 1855 , son of Hon. Marcus Doherty, a Judge of Quebec Superior Court, and Elizabeth (O'Halloran) Doherty. Educated: Christian Brothers' School; Ste. Marie Jesuit College; McGill University (B.C.L., Elizabeth Torrance Gold Medal, 1876; D.C.L., 1893; LL.D., 1913); St. Francis Xavier College (B.A.); Ottawa University (LL.D., 1895). Called to Quebec Bar, 1877; created K.C. (Lord Lansdowne), 1887; has pleaded before the Privy Council in England; appointed Puisné Judge of the Superior Court, Quebec, Oct. 19, 1891; retired with pension, 1906; one of the Counsel for Jesuits in libel suit against Toronto Mail ; member Royal Commission to Investigate the Working of the Catholic and Protestant School Boards, Montreal, 1883; Professor of Civil and International Law, McGill University, several years; was, before entering the Government, Director, La Banque Provinciale, 1907; Director, Montreal City and District Savings Bank, 1908; Director, Prudential Trust Co., 1911; Director, Capital Life Assurance Co., 1911; President, Canadian Securities Corporation, 1910. Was candidate for Quebec Legislature for Montreal West, 1881; for Montreal Centre, 1886; elected to the House of Commons for St. Ann's Division, Montreal, 1908, re-elected Sept., 1911, and again on taking office as Minister of Justice, Oct., 1911; and on the 17th Dec., 1917. Accompanied Mr. Borden on his western tour, 1910 sworn of the Privy Council and accepted office in Borden Cabinet as Minister of Justice, Oct. 11, 1911; made an Imperial Privy Councillor, 1920, and sworn as such by His Majesty, Oct. 5, 1921; Canadian Delegate to League of Nations; ex-President, University Literary Society; President, St. Patrick's Society, Montreal, 1903-04; Director, International Truth Society; Trustee, St. Patrick's Orphan Asylum, Montreal; ex-President, Irish National League, Montreal. Attended Peace Conference as Canadian Representative and as such signed the Peace Treaty on behalf of Canada. Married: Catherine Lucy Barnard, daughter of Edmund Barnard, K.C., Montreal, June, 1888; has one son and four daughters. Clubs: St. James's; Mount Royal ; University; Catholic ( New York ). Served as Captain, 65th Regiment, through Northwest Rebellion, 1885. Liberal-Conservative. Catholic. Residence: 9 Forden Ave., Westmount, Que.

Source: Prominent People of the Province of Quebec, 1923-24, Montreal, Biographical Society of Canada, Limited, undated and unpaginated. Correct French spelling and accents have been restored.