Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Casimir Galt (1853-1936)

Click to enlarge

Alexander Casimir Galt
Click to enlarge

Lawyer, judge.

Born at Toronto, Ontario on 15 March 1853, son of Sir Thomas Galt and Lady Galt, brother of George Frederick Galt, he was educated at Dr. Tassies’ School (Galt), Hellmuth College (London), Osgoode Hall (Toronto), and the University of Toronto. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1876, after which he practised at Toronto (1876-1896) then at Rossland, British Columbia (1897-1906).

In 1906, he came to Winnipeg and was called to the Manitoba Bar, becoming a member of the firm of Tupper, Galt, Tupper, Minty and MacTavish. He was appointed a King’s Counsel in 1909, then appointed to the Court of King’s Bench in 1912. He led a Royal Commission into overexpenditures during construction of the Manitoba Agricultural College (1916-1917), finding that Public Works Minister Robert Rogers conspired with contractor Thomas Kelly to redirect public funds into Conservative Party coffers, although the finding was disputed. In 1919, he presided controversially at the trial of Frederick John Dixon, one of the leaders of the Winnipeg General Strike, where he made little effort to hide his opinion that the plaintiff was guilty, especially in his summation to the jury. He retired from the bench in 1933.

In 1885, he married Ella Grace Vivian (1866-1932), with whom he had three sons and two daughters. The family lived at 259 Oxford Street, Winnipeg (c1915). He was a member of the Manitoba Club and Anglican church.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 219 Montrose Street, on 29 July 1936 and was buried in the St. John's Cathedral Cemetery.

Sources:

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

Who's Who and Why, Volumes 6 and 7, 1915-1916, page 635.

“Galt says Rogers is conspirer,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 May 1917, page 1.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

Death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Hon. A. C. Galt, of King’s Bench Court, is dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 July 1936, page 1.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Terry Warsaw for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 June 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!