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Barrister-at-law and County Crown Attorney,
Hamilton, was born at Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1836. His father
was a mechanic, possessed of great natural talent, had strong literary
tastes, and was a well-known contributor in his own locality, to the
journals of his day. Though long dead, his "sayings and doings"
are still often quoted in the "reminiscence" columns of the
Perthshire newspapers. Our subject was the eldest of five sons, all living
with one exception, and occupying prominent positions. One is a well-known
divine in the Free Church of Scotland (the Rev. Thomas Crerar, M. A. of
Leith). This divine has contributed to the literature of Scotland several
valuable translations from the German writers on theological subjects. Our
subject was educated partly in his native town and partly at the famous
"Madras College" of St. Andrew's. He entered a Scotch law office
at an early age, but after three years' study he gave up the law, and
entered the service of the old Perth Bank, whence he joined the ill-fated
City of Glasgow Bank, in Edinburgh. In 1857, he was induced by the late T.
M. Daly, of Stratford (a relation by marriage) then M.P. for Perth in the
old Parliament of Canada, to come to this country. In the fall of 1857 he
received an appointment in the Bank of Montreal. Here he remained for ten
years. In 1864, while stationed in the Bank of Montreal, at London, he
maried Miss Hope, eldest daughter of the late Hon. Adam Hope, Senator of
the Dominion. In 1866, at Mr. Hope's suggestion, Mr. Crerar abandoned
banking and commenced life afresh, as a law student, in the office of E.J.
Parke, Barrister, London, C.W. Subsequently he studied with S. B. Freeman,
at Hamilton, and with R.A. Harrison, afterwards Chief Justice, at Toronto.
Mr. Crerar carried off the first Law scholarship at Osgoode Hall, in each
year of his course; and in 1871 opened his office as a barrister, in
Hamilton, where he now resides, and is the senior partner of the firm of
Crerar, Muir & Crerar, Barristers, &c. He is solicitor for various
corporations including the Molsons Bank, in that city, and the firm are
reputed to do a large and lucrative law business. From 1872 to 1880 our
subject became widely known as an active and trusted member of the Liberal
party in politics. Notably a man who has the courage of his opinions, his
political platform was rigidly defined and uncompromising. A student, con
amore, of political economy, he was ever a pronounced Free-trader of the
Cobden and Bright school. Thoroughly familiar with the literature of
free-trade, he plunged into the parliamentary campaign of 1878 with
singular enthusiasm, and through the press and on a score of platforms
throughout Ontario he publicly analysed from the scientific economical
point of view propounded by the recognized authorities of Free trade and
Protection, the new dogma called the National Policy. His efforts were
recognized by the press of his party as an exposition of trade principles
from the Free trade standpoint which for thoroughness and ability were not
excelled by those of any platform orator on the Liberal side during that
memorable contest. In 1881 Mr. Crerar was appointed County Crown Attorney
for the County of Wentworth, which necessarily precluded him from further
active work in politics, and it is supposed that he accepted the position
with that result specially in view. He is a powerful debater and a man of
intense convictions. His views on public questions are given in a way to
indicate that the speaker is absolutely indifferent whether these views
are popular or unpopular. Immediately preceding his appointment to his
present office, he served for a time as an alderman in Hamilton City
Council, where his uncompromising method of dealing with city affairs,
purely upon their merits, was fully recognized. Mr. Crerar is a man of
prepossessing appearance and possesses many social accomplishments.
Himself an actor of great versatility he founded, some ten years ago, the
celebrated "Garrick Club" of Hamilton, of which he is now
president, a dramatic association whose productions on the stage, on
behalf of the charitable institutions of that city, have always been
excellent. In the social meetings of the members of his profession,
"bar-dinners", our subject is always a prominent figure, his
post-prandial speeches being singularly happy and amusing. It is by no
means improbable that the subject of our sketch will again take his part
in public politics, in which case there is little doubt, but we shall hear
of him on the floor of one or other of our Houses of Parliament. He is a
Freemason. |
