Memorable Manitobans: John Grant Cowan (1897-1966)

Lawyer, civil servant.

Born at Burnside on 25 December 1897, son of Sarah Bell Grant, and educated at Portage la Prairie and Oakville, he graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1923 and was called to the Manitoba Bar the same year. He was employed by the firm Mackenzie, Campbell and Driscoll, for which he started articling in 1919. In 1930, he transferred to Kennedy and Kennedy. He remained there until 1936 when he received his first position with the civil service as Assistant Director of the Provincial Lands Branch. In 1950, he became Assistant Deputy Minister of the Manitoba Department of Mines and Natural Resources, and was made a King's Counsel in 1951. He became Deputy Minister in 1962. He died at Winnipeg on 10 February 1966 and was buried in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Sources:

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“8 Manitoba men honored as K.C.s,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 January 1951. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 167]

“Eight Manitoba King’s Counsel announced in New Year’s list,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 January 1951, page 1.

“Cowan dies after heart attack,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1966, page 41.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 15 February 1966, page 28.

This page was prepared by Sarah Ramsden and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 24 June 2019

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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