Memorable Manitobans: Albert Elswood Richards (1848-1917)

Lawyer, judge.

Born at Toronto, Ontario on 10 February 1848, son of Stephen Richards QC, he was educated at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto. He graduated as medalist in modern languages in 1870. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1874 and practiced at Brockville, Ontario from 1874 to 1882. He came to Winnipeg in 1882 and was called to the Manitoba Bar later that year. Richards founded the firm of Richards & Coutlee and practiced law until 1899. He was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba, serving from 1883 to 1886, and was Treasurer of the Society for many years. In 1896, he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel.

He was elected to the Winnipeg City Council in 1896 and served for three years. In 1899 he was appointed Puisne Judge of the Court of King’s Bench for Manitoba. In 1906 he became Puisne Judge of the Court of Appeal. He was for some years a member and then chairman of the Board of License Commissioners for the Winnipeg district. As a member of the Board of Grain Commissioners he was instrumental in formulating the Grain Act of 1901. He was appointed to the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench and, on 23 July 1906, when the Court of Appeal was formed, he was made a Judge.

In 1877, he married Harriet Edith Henderson (1854-1928) of Kingston, Ontario and they had five children: Stephen Elswood Richards, Harold H. Richards (1880-?), Edith Mary Richards (1882-1950, wife of Frederick Hartington Bole), Stanley Crawford Richards, and Muriel Mabel Richards (1890-?). He was a member of the Manitoba Club and St. Charles Country Club.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 222 Mayfair Avenue, on 28 May 1917 and was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

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.

“Old time Winnipeg citizen is dead,” Manitoba Free Press, 28 May 1917, page 1.

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 April 2020

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: 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!