Henry Judah
Henry Hague Judah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date London, England |
| Died | February 10, 1883 (aged 74) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | First Jewish member of the Parliament of the Province of Canada; president of Montreal City and District Savings Bank |
Henry Hague Judah (April 28, 1808 – February 10, 1883) was a distinguished lawyer, entrepreneur, and political leader in Canada East, Province of Canada (present-day Quebec). As one of the pioneering Jewish legal professionals in early Canadian history, Judah became the first Jewish individual to hold a seat in the Parliament of the Province of Canada. He developed a broad legal practice initially based in Trois-Rivières before moving his operations to Montreal. Judah contributed to the commission responsible for dismantling the seigneurial tenure in Lower Canada. Beyond law, he was engaged in finance, ultimately serving as president of the Montreal City and District Savings Bank (now known as the Laurentian Bank of Canada), and supported the establishment of the short-lived Montreal and Bytown Railway Company.
Family and early life
Born in London in 1808, Henry Hague Judah was related to Ezekiel Hart, recognized as the first Jewish person elected to public office within the British Empire. Ezekiel’s son, Aaron Ezekiel Hart, became the first Jewish lawyer admitted to the bar in Lower Canada in 1824. The Hart family had deep roots in the Trois-Rivières region, where Judah joined them. He pursued legal studies there and was called to the bar in 1829, marking him as one of Canada's earliest Jewish attorneys. Judah initially practiced law in Trois-Rivières before relocating to Montreal in 1840, where he formed a partnership with Jonathan S.C. Würtele.
In 1834, Judah married Harline Kimber, daughter of René-Joseph Kimber—a physician from Trois-Rivières—in an Anglican church ceremony.
Political career
During the 1830s, Judah’s father-in-law, René-Joseph Kimber, served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, supporting the Parti canadien. After Lower and Upper Canada united in 1841, Kimber secured election to the inaugural Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada representing Champlain.
In 1843, Kimber was appointed to the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, vacating his Champlain seat. Judah subsequently won the by-election to fill this vacancy.
Unlike his cousin Ezekiel Hart—who was twice elected but prevented from taking his seat due to his Jewish faith—Judah encountered no such barriers. By that time, legislation granting equal rights to Jews had been enacted within the province. It remains uncertain whether Judah’s acceptance stemmed from this legal emancipation or a possible change in religious affiliation; however, he served during the 1843 legislative session.
Within the Assembly, Judah actively cast votes and generally aligned himself with the French-Canadian Group, a reformist faction led by Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine. Surviving correspondence indicates that he was disappointed at not receiving an appointment to the provincial Cabinet (Executive Council).
Judah ran alongside reformers from Canada East during the 1844 election but was defeated by fellow reformer Louis Guillet. Following this defeat, he chose not to pursue further political office.
Friendship with Papineau
Following the 1843 parliamentary session, the Judah family journeyed to Europe where they formed a close relationship with Louis-Joseph Papineau, who was then living in exile due to his involvement in the Lower Canada Rebellion. Their connection was marked by engaging debates on Canadian political matters, and they occasionally shared living quarters. The Judahs extended financial aid to Papineau, who was without a steady income and was attempting to recover unpaid dues from his former position as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada prior to the Rebellion. Letters from the period indicate that the Judah family also assisted the Papineaus in securing residence in Montreal, either by acquiring their property at a reasonable cost or by leasing accommodations to them.
Legal and business career
In 1854, Judah earned the distinction of being named Queen's Counsel, and a year later, he was appointed commissioner tasked with overseeing the dismantling of the seigneurial system—a responsibility that involved meticulous evaluation of compensation claims and territorial limits on an individual basis.
He played a pivotal role in establishing the Montreal City and District Savings Bank (which later became the Laurentian Bank of Canada) and eventually took on the presidency during difficult times. Judah was an advocate for the Montreal and Bytown Railway, although this venture ceased operations five years after its inception. Additionally, he possessed considerable real estate holdings within Old Montreal.
While not actively participating in electoral campaigns, Judah maintained affiliations with the LaFontaine faction (which evolved into the Parti bleu). In 1863, he appeared as a witness supporting Bleu ally Alexandre-Maurice Delisle during an investigation into governmental corruption.
Later life and death
The Judahs made their home at "Le Bocage" located on Dorchester Boulevard. Correspondence from Papineau reveals that Harline Judah experienced declining health between late 1858 and early 1859. Following her passing, Judah commemorated her by donating valuable land in downtown Montreal to the Grey Nuns.
After retiring, he entrusted his legal practice to his nephew, Frederick Thomas Judah. Henry Judah passed away in Montreal in 1883 and his funeral took place at the Anglican church of St. James.