Adam Wilson

Sir Adam Wilson (September 22, 1814 – December 28, 1891) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West. He served as mayor of Toronto in 1859 and 1860 and in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada for York North from 1860 to 1863. After his political career, he served as a judge and was named Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving judge in Ontario and was subsequently knighted.

Early life and career

Adam Wilson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1814 to Jane and Andrew Wilson. He attended Heriot’s Hospital in Edinburgh In 1834, he moved to Toronto where he articled for Robert Baldwin and Robert Baldwin Sullivan and was called to the bar in 1839. The following year, he was made partner at the Baldwin law firm. His campaign focused on the railway business’ influence over alderman’s decisions on council. Wilson won the 1859 mayoral election in Toronto’s first direct election for mayor and won a subsequent campaign for mayor in 1860.

In his rulings, Wilson would bring together applicable precedents but have little analysis of how they worked together to come to a conclusion. He also cited American law and tried to show independence from British law. He died in Toronto on December 28, 1891.