Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819-1894)
Matthew Baillie Begbie lived in Mauritius until the age of 7, where his father was stationed .
The family then returned to Great Britain and in 1830 moved to Guernsey, where Begbie was enrolled in Elizabeth College, until 1836. He than entered Trinity College, Cambridge, and later moved to St. Peter's College, Cambridge where he obtained a B.A. in 1841. He obtained a Master of Arts in 1844.
He was called to the Bar in 1844 in Lincoln's Inn. He practiced law till 1858.
In 1858 he was appointed Judge of the court of the colony of Vancouver Island.
On the 17th of November 1866, the union of Vancouver Island and British Columbia was proclaimed and Mr. Begbie was appointed Chief Justice of the united colony.Mr. Begbie was knighted in 1875, by Queen Victoria, for his services to the country , which all acknowleged to have been incalculable value to the country.
Mr. Begbie was sometimes called "The hagging Judge", a name he did not deserve.
Historian David Williams says, "Begbie was ‘an extremely humane, literate, generous, humorous and fair-minded man’ He abhorred the taking of life"
While on vacation Begbie met an American Jurist who stated "You certainly did some hanging, judge" To which Mr. Begbie relied "Excuse me, my good friend. I never hanged any man. I simply swore in good American citizens, like yourself, as jurymen, and it was you who hanged your fellow citizens."
Judge Begbie could be called the travelling Judge. He brought justice to the people living in the small settlements, and remote farms, his traveling circuit was estimated by historian Hubert Howe Bancroft to measure 500 miles in either direction.
During one of the trails, when the Jury acquitted an armed robber, Begbie, angered by the acquittal said to the prisoner:
"The jurymen say you are not guilty, but with that I do not agree. It is now my duty to set you free and I warn you not to pursue your evil ways, but if you ever again should be so inclined, I hope you select your victim from the men who acquitted you."
Judge Begbie was conversant in four different aboriginal BC languages and had a real heart for the First Nations people whom he praised as "a race of laborious independent workers."
On the morning of his funeral a large number of the Victoria Bar met in the courthouse and passed the following resolution:
"Resolved, that the members of the bar, now assembled, on behalve of themselves and bretheren throughout the province, express their deep sorrow at his death.
"Throughout a long life he occupied a distinguished position as a lawyer and a judge, and, although he reached an advanced age, he was, up to within a few weeks of his death, actively engaged in the performance of the duties pertaining to his high office.
" His removal takes away one of the most prominent figures connected with the early history of this province, a man whose strong individuality and uprightness have left a lasting impress upon every branch of our judicial system.
" At a period when firmness and discretion in the administration of justice were most needed, his wise and fearless action as a judge caused the law to be honored and obeyed in every quarter.
" When the settlement of the country advanced, and the necessity for preventing lawless outbreaks became less frequent, he, as the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court, manifested an ability which showed that his intellectual faculties were as keen and active as his character was stable and commanding.
"He was a man of scholarly attainments, and his versatility of talent evoked the admiration of all who came in contact with him.
"As a judge, the tendency of his thought was eminently logical, his judgment was prompt and decisive, his integrity was never questioned.
" His private life was in every way worthy of his public position. Plain and unassuming in manner, courteous and dignified in his speech, loyal to his companions, firm in his friendships, of a generous and sympathetic nature, unostentatiously good and silently charitable, he will be missed not only by his professional associates, but by many who knew him only as a kind and steadfast friend.
" He has departed from us full of years and honors, but his memory will remain as that of one whose judicial career has been without stain, and whose personal worth has won our deepest respect and affection"
SIR MATTHEW was accorded a public funeral. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Jenns, in St. John's Church, where Sir Matthew had worshipped since 1860. The church was heavily draped and handsomely decorated with flowers. A simple, black covering, relieved by a neat cross of passion flowers, marked the late Chief Justice's seat in the choir. The pall-bearers were Hon. A. N. Richards, Q.C., D. R. Harris, Hon. J. S. Helmcken, M.D., Justices Crease, McCreight and Drake, Hon T. Davie, Q.C., Premier, Hon. J. H. Turner, and Hon. C. E. Pooley, Q.C. Chief mourners, Hon. P. O'Rielly and Dr. O. M. Jones. His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor and Admiral Stephenson occupied the carriage next to the chief mourners. Among the clergy present were his Lordship Bishop Perrin, who pronounced the benediction at the grave; Revs. Canon Beanlands, Hewitson, Lipscome, and Rev. Mr. Norwood, of the Royal Arthur.
Begbie asked that a simple wooden cross be erected over his grave with his name and dates and the inscription "Lord be merciful to me a sinner."
Some of the information was taken from: The History of
