Edward John Hemming

Edward John Hemming, (30 August 1823 – 17 September 1905), was a lawyer, politician and author.

Born in London, Hemming was the seventh and last child of Henry Keene Hemming (1793–1847) and Sophia Wirgman (1785–1870). After finishing his studies at Clapham Grammar School in south-western London. He was a midshipman in the Royal Navy from 1836 to 1845, then joined his father not only ran his own farm but was also agent for the Duke of Devonshire at Lismore Castle, Ireland.

Hemming left Ireland on the invitation of his cousin, Christopher Dunkin, to study law at McGill College in 1851, after which he was admitted to the bar of Lower-Canada on 7 May 1855. He moved to Montreal in 1855 under the guidance of Alexander Hutchison Lunn until 1858 when he moved to Drummondville and established a large farm as did his father. In the same year, he married Sophia Louisa Ribinson and they went on to have 8 children. He was joined at the farm by his eldest brother, Henry Hemming in 1864. In 1899, he moved to Knowlton. Aged 82, and having celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with a family reunion sevens week earlier, he died and was buried in the cemetery at Knowlton.

Political activities

Hemming was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Conservative in the Drummond-Arthabaska riding in 1867, but was defeated in his re-election bid in 1871 by Wilfrid Laurier of the Liberal party. He was an active member of the Church of England, working on religious education in schools and serving as marguillier of St. George's Church in Drummond ville. He was a longtime delegate to the diocesan and Synod of Quebec.

Writing

In 1853, he published Negligence of Chemistry by the Farmers followed in 1856 by The Digested Index to the Statutes in Force in Lower Canada.

References

• "Edward John Hemming". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2005.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.