William Osgoode

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William Osgoode (March 1754-January 17, 1824) was the first Chief Justice of Ontario, Canada.

He was born William Osgood in London, England in 1754. He attended Christ Church College at Oxford and was called to the bar in 1779. On December 31, 1791, he was appointed first Chief Justice of Upper Canada. Although he mainly sought the opinions of lawyers from England, Osgoode attempted to adapt the English civil law of the time to fit the needs of a developing colony. For example, he allowed justices of the peace to perform marriages when Anglican priests were not readily available. Osgoode's Judicature Act of 1794 established a system of district courts and a superior provincial court. During his term, legislation was also introduced to abolish slavery. Osgoode also served as a member of John Graves Simcoe's Executive Council for Upper Canada.

In 1794, he became Chief Justice of Lower Canada. Osgoode came into conflict with Governor Robert Prescott over an attempt to sort out the issue of land grants in the region. When Prescott was recalled, he came into conflict with Prescott's successor, Lieutenant Governor Robert Shore Milnes. In 1801, Osgoode resigned and returned to London. He died there in 1824.

Osgoode Hall, the headquarters of the Law Society of Upper Canada, was named after him, as was Osgoode Hall Law School. In addition, the former Osgoode Township in Ontario also bears his name.