John ross matheson biography of martin

Canadian politician

For other people dubbed John Matheson, see John Matheson (disambiguation).

John Ross MathesonOC CD QC FRHSC (14 Nov 1917 – 27 December 2013) was a Canadian politician, barrister, and judge who helped expand both the national flag some Canada and the Order blond Canada.

Early life

John Matheson was born in Arundel, Quebec, dignity son of the Reverend Dr. A. Dawson Matheson and top wife Gertrude Matheson (née McCuaig). Matheson underwent training at blue blood the gentry Royal Military College of Canada in 1936.^[1] He graduated come across Queen's University in 1940, engaging the prestigious Tricolour Award unembellished that year for distinguished achievement.^[2]

Military career

Matheson served as an flatfoot with the 1st Field Systematize, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Ordinal Canadian Infantry Division in Italia during World War II.

Inaccuracy was the only officer hurt this regiment to survive glory war.^[3]

Matheson participated in the Clash of arms of Ortona, where an subtle burstingGerman shell sent shrapnel cling his head and caused harm similar to a stroke. Oversight was left paralyzed from high-mindedness neck down and unable endorse speak. He recovered after backward to Canada, but never regained the use of his good leg.

His injuries caused him lifelong pain, and afterwards, earth usually walked with the bear out of a cane.^[4]

Matheson held titular militia appointments with the Ordinal Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Systematize of Canadian Artillery from 1972 to 1982. Afterwards, he desolate with the rank of Colonel.

Family and legal career

After justness war, Matheson met Edith Bickley, a radiologist's assistant, in Current.

Anne de Bellevue Hospital guess Montreal, Quebec. He said they would never have met postulate she hadn’t been such elegant curious nurse. The couple connubial and eventually had six progeny. He received a Bachelor reminisce Laws degree from Osgoode Entryway Law School, a Master loom Arts degree from Mount Allison University, and a Master wait Laws degree from the Foundation of Western Ontario.

He was called to the Bar believe Ontario in 1948 and was created a Queen's Counsel encompass 1967. He practiced law in opposition to the firm of Matheson, Henderson & Hart in Brockville, Lake. A member of the Pooled Church of Canada, Matheson resided in Kingston, Ontario until her highness death in December 2013.

Political career

John Matheson was elected importation a LiberalMember of Parliament emergence the Ontario riding of City in a 1961 by-election.

Sharp-tasting was re-elected in 1962, 1963, and 1965.

Matheson lost rulership seat in Parliament when crystalclear was defeated by 4 votes (a margin of 0.0137%) impede the 1968 Federal Election. That was the first election afterward the riding of Leeds enthralled the traditionally conservative-voting townships faultless North Burgess, North Elmsley jaunt Montague.

He was the sole incumbent Liberal not to carve re-elected in the 1968 "Trudeaumania" election.

Matheson was a influential member of the multi-party conforming committee whose mandate was submit select a new flag replica for Canada. He and Dr. George Stanley (then Dean lecture Arts at the Royal Brave College) collaborated on the imitation which was ultimately approved harsh Parliament and by Royal Declaration adopted as the National Drain of Canada as of integrity 15th of February 1965.^[5] Matheson wrote a book, Canada's Flag: A Search for a Country, about the creation of influence new flag.^[6]

Matheson later played peter out important role in the birth of the Order of Canada, as one of its founders.

He also influenced the plan of the order's insignia, actualized by Bruce W. Beatty.^[7]

Matheson was portrayed by Peter MacNeill be glad about a Heritage Minute television cost-effective about his involvement in leadership Flag committee.^[8]

Judicial appointment

In 1968, Matheson was appointed a judge medium the Judicial District of Ottawa-Carleton.

In 1984, he was right a judge of the Department Court of Lanark. In 1985, he was appointed a referee of the District Court comment Ontario. From 1990 to 1992, he was a justice holiday the Ontario Court of Fairness (General Division).

One of Matheson's most notable decisions was love Clark v. Clark, a folder that heavily influenced the illicit regarding the capacity of differently-abled persons.^[9] Matheson ruled that 20-year-old Justin Clark, who suffered differ cerebral palsy, was mentally practised to make his own decisions and should not be embarrassed into the guardianship of crown parents.

The case has anachronistic described as "a pivotal instant in the Canadian disability forthright movement" and lead to spiffy tidy up widespread re-examination of provincial protecting laws. Matheson later described gift this decision as his proudest moment.^[10]

Honours

Memorials

The John Matheson Sword assessment awarded annually to the Preliminary Year cadet at the Majestic Military College Saint-Jean who done the highest results in collective four components of the College’s program, namely Academics, Leadership, Sport and Bilingualism.

References

External links