Civil servant, lawyer, educator.
Born at England on 9 June 1863, son of Albert Corbett and Emma Morrice, he came to Canada in 1882 with his brother Joseph Corbett (c1861-1895). He worked as a schoolteacher in rural Manitoba, including at Soudan School (1886), Rapid City School (1887), and Riding Mountain School (1889-1890), to pay his tuition at St. John’s College where graduated as a Silver Medalist (Mental & Moral Philosophy) from the University of Manitoba (BA, ?), and attained a First Class Teaching Certificate (1887). He attended post-graduation studies at Cambridge Univerity in England before returning to Winnipeg and was Principal of Central School No. 1 [Victoria School] (1895-1896), resigning in June 1896.
He returned to the University of Manitoba and graduated from law school (c1902) after which he began practicing law. By the late 1910s, he had settled at 290 Bonner Avenue in East Kildonan [later North Kildonan], eventually moving back into the city during the 1930s to the Chateau Apartments (c1938). During this time, he worked as the Deputy-Registrar of the Court of King’s Bench in Winnipeg for over 20 years before retiring in October 1938.
On 10 June 1899, he married Eva Kidd (1871-1945) at Winnipeg and they had two children: Maurice William Corbett (1900-1993) and Maude [Maud] Eveline Corbett (1905-1938).
In retirement, he moved to British Columbia and married Ida Gunn (1896-1965) following his first wife’s death. He died at Victoria on 1 March 1948 and was buried in Royal Oak Burial Park at Saanich.
Birth [Maurice William Corbett], marriage, and death [Jos. Corbett & Maud Eveline Corbett] registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.
1901, 1906, & 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.
1921 & 1926 Canada censuses, Library and Archives Canada.
“First class teachers,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 24 July 1887, page 4.
“Death of Mr. J. Corbett,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 April 1895, page 5.
“The reportorial round [W. A. Corbett],” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 18 April 1895, page 8.
“Educational [Tuition],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 14 June 1895, page 7.
“Assignment of teachers,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 31 August 1895, page 5.
“School matters,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 15 April 1896, page 3.
“Educational,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 30 June 1896, page 7.
“Faculty of law [Final Year],” Manitoba Free Press, 16 May 1902, page 8.
Obituary [Maud Eveline Corbett], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 April 1938, page 8.
“Two retired court officials are honored,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 October 1938, page 20.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 4 September 2024
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