Sir John Alexander Boyd (April 23, 1837November 23, 1916) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

lawyer and judge. John Alexander Boyd was born in Toronto on April 23, 1837. Educated at

Upper Canada College Upper Canada College (UCC) is an elite, all-boys, private school in Toronto, Ontario, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The college is widely described as the country's most prestigious preparatory school, and has produce ...

and the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 ...

, Boyd began his career in 1860 when he was articled to David Breakenridge Read. Boyd was Chancellor of the High Court of Justice of the Province of Ontario, the last chancellor before common law and equity were fused in the province. His term as chancellor began on May 3, 1881. Boyd wrote the trial decision in '' St Catharines Milling and Lumber Co v R'', in which he ruled for Ontario, rejecting the concept of Aboriginal title. In his decision, Boyd denigrated Indigenous peoples in Canada and endorsed racist views about them. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) during the visit to Canada of TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...

and Queen Mary) in October 1901. In 1903, Boyd and

William Glenholme Falconbridge Sir William Glenholme Falconbridge, (May 12, 1846 – February 8, 1920) was a Canadian lawyer and judge in Ontario, Canada. Born in Drummondville (now Niagara Falls, Ontario), Upper Canada, he was the son of John Kennedy Falconbridge, an Ir ...

were appointed to a royal commission to investigate charges of bribery brought forward by

Robert Roswell Gamey Robert Roswell Gamey (August 29, 1865 – March 19, 1917) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Manitoulin in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1902 to 1917 as a Conservative member. He was born in Maxwell ...

against the Liberal Government of the time. Although the commission found no proof for these allegations, the provincial Conservatives won the general election that followed two years later.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Boyd, John Alexander 1837 births 1916 deaths Canadian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Judges in Ontario Lawyers in Ontario University of Toronto alumni Upper Canada College alumni