Matthew Baillie Begbie

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Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie

Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (9 May 1819 – 11 June 1894) was a British-born Canadian judge.

Begbie served as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Colony of British Columbia 1858 to 1866 and then, in the same capacity in the Supreme Court, United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia from 1866 to 1870. He was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Colonies from 1870 to 1871 and, following British Columbia joining confederation in 1871, he served as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the new Province of British Columbia until his death in 1894.

In the years after his death, Judge Begbie become known, inappropriately, as the "Hanging Judge".

Begbie spent the first thirty-nine years of his life in Great Britain. During these years his life was filled with social and intellectual activities. He received his first degree from Cambridge University where he studied mathematics and the classics. He was involved in a great number of extracurricular activities, including singing and acting in amateur productions, playing chess, rowing, and tennis. After Cambridge Begbie went on to study law at Lincoln's Inn. He established a successful law practice in London before heading to British Columbia.

Begbie came to Fort Victoria, in 1858 in the midst the influx of prospectors and others brought about by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush which greatly expanded the population of the what became, as he arrived, the Colony of British Columbia. During that influx, and the following Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861, Begbie played a crucial role in the establishment of law and order throughout the Colony of British Columbia.

He was knighted by Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle in 1875.

During his years on the bench, Begbie travelled throughout British Columbia, on foot and later on horseback administering justice in sometimes informal circumstances but he is said to have always worn his judicial robes and wig when court was in session. During his early years, he played a role in government including drafting legislation. He spoke several languages and is said to have been able to conduct trials in several aboriginal languages without the use of an interpreter.

Mt. Begbie (left)

He was an active naturalist, recording observations during his travel, including drawing maps and bridge construction drawings. He sang opera.

He continued his judicial duties well into his last illness dying in Victoria, British Columbia on June 11, 1894. The funeral procession marking his death is said to have been unprecedented and intended to mark the passing of a man regarded as British Columbia's first citizen.

Mount Begbie, the most prominent mountain seen from Revelstoke, was named in his honour. There are two other Mount Begbies in British Columbia; they are little more than hills although the one in the marshlands south of 100 Mile House has also given its name to the Begbie Summit, the highest point on the Cariboo Highway. There are also two lakes and a creek also named for Judge Begbie.

Begbie is interred at Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia.