Douglas Charles Abbott PC (May 29, 1899 – March 15, 1987) was a Canadian Member of Parliament, federal Cabinet Minister, and justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Abbott's appointment directly from the Cabinet of Canada as Finance Minister to the Supreme Court was one of the most controversial in the Supreme Court's history.[2]
Douglas Abbott | |
|---|---|
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| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada | |
| In office July 1, 1954 – December 23, 1973 | |
| Nominated by | Louis St. Laurent |
| Preceded by | Patrick Kerwin |
| Succeeded by | Louis-Philippe de Grandpré |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office December 10, 1946 – June 30, 1954 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King Louis St. Laurent |
| Preceded by | James Lorimer Ilsley |
| Succeeded by | Walter Harris |
| Minister of National Defence | |
| In office August 21, 1945 – December 9, 1946 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Andrew McNaughton |
| Succeeded by | Brooke Claxton |
| Member of Parliament for Saint-Antoine—Westmount | |
| In office March 26, 1940 – June 30, 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Smeaton White |
| Succeeded by | George Carlyle Marler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Douglas Charles Abbott May 29, 1899 Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | March 15, 1987 (aged 87) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouses | Mary Winnifred Chisholm
(m. 1925; died 1980)Florence Elizabeth Scarth
(m. 1981) |
| Children | 3, including Tony |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Non-Permanent Active Militia Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 1918 |
| Rank | Gunner (NPAM)[1] |
| Unit | 7th (McGill) Siege Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery |
Early life
editAbbott was born in Lennoxville, Quebec (now Sherbrooke, Quebec). He attended Bishop's University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended McGill Law School, but interrupted his studies to sign up for service overseas, in 1916. Returning from the Great War, he completed his legal studies, earning his Bachelor of Civil Law. He then went to France to attend the Université de Dijon.[3] Returning to Canada, he was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1921 and practised law in Montreal with the firm of Fleet, Phelan, Fleet & Le Mesurier.
Political career
editAbbott successfully stood for election to the House of Commons in 1940, and remained a member of the House for fourteen years. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Abbott served as Minister of National Defence (1945–1946) and then Minister of Finance (1946–1954).
Supreme Court justice
editHe was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on July 1, 1954[2] and served as puisne justice until December 23, 1973.
Abbott was appointed to the court directly from the federal Cabinet, where he had served the previous seven years as Finance Minister.[2] The appointment is considered one of the most controversial in the history of the Supreme Court.[2] It was the first appointment directly from Cabinet since the 1911 appointment of Louis-Philippe Brodeur.[2] As of 2024, Abbott was the last justice of the Supreme Court of Canada appointed directly to the Court from the Cabinet, and the last justice to have held elected office prior to his appointment.[citation needed]
Parliamentary seats
editHouse of Commons
edit- 16 May 1940 – 16 April 1945: St. Antoine—Westmount, Quebec
- 6 September 1945 – 30 April 1949: St. Antoine—Westmount, Quebec
- 15 September 1949 – 13 June 1953: St. Antoine—Westmount, Quebec
- 12 November 1953 – 30 June 1954: Saint-Antoine—Westmount, Quebec
Parliamentary functions
editMinistry
edit- 18 April 1945 – 11 December 1946: Minister of National Defence for Naval Services[3]
- 21 August 1945 – 11 December 1946: Minister of National Defence[3]
- 10 December 1946 – 30 June 1954: Minister of Finance[3] and Receiver General
Parliamentary Secretary
edit- 1 April 1943 – 7 March 1945: Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance[3]
- 8 March 1945 – 16 April 1945: Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of National Defence[3]
Archives
editThere is a Douglas Charles Abbott fonds at Library and Archives Canada. Archival reference number is R4773 (former archival reference number MG32-B6).[4]
References
edit- ^ Archives, McGill University (November 11, 2012). "McGill University Archives – McGill Remembers". www.archives.mcgill.ca.
- ^ a b c d e McCormick, Peter (2000-01-01). Supreme at Last: The Evolution of the Supreme Court of Canada. James Lorimer & Company. ISBN 9781550286922.
- ^ a b c d e f The International Who's Who 1972–73. London: Europa Publications. 1972. p. 2. ISBN 0900362480.
- ^ "Finding aid for Douglas Charles Abbott fonds" (PDF). Retrieved June 8, 2020.