20 Facts About Adam Wilson

Sir Adam Wilson was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West.

Adam Wilson served as mayor of Toronto in 1859 and 1860 and in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada for York North from 1860 to 1863.

Adam Wilson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1814 to Jane and Andrew Wilson.

Adam Wilson attended Heriot's Hospital in Edinburgh before immigrating to Halton County, Upper Canada in 1830 to work with his uncle.

Adam Wilson sued Prime Minister John A Macdonald and two other ministers in 1858 for illegally keeping their political positions.

Adam Wilson led a group of councillors who were against the influence of the railway companies in council decisions.

Adam Wilson organised an investigation on how Casimir Gzowski won a contract to construct the Esplanade.

Adam Wilson was encouraged to run in the 1859 mayoral election of Toronto by the Municipal Reform Association, a Reform group who opposed the Conservative dominance of Toronto municipal politics.

Adam Wilson's campaign focused on the railway business' influence over alderman's decisions on council.

Adam Wilson's concerns included the Grand Trunk Railway putting trains between residents and Lake Ontario and the pollution that accumulated in various water sources along the Toronto waterfront.

Adam Wilson won the 1859 mayoral election in Toronto's first direct election for mayor and won a subsequent campaign for mayor in 1860.

Adam Wilson was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in an 1860 by-election in the riding of York North.

Adam Wilson resigned from politics in 1863 and was named a judge in the Court of Queen's Bench.

Adam Wilson was part of the Court of Common Pleas and was an ex-officio judge of Error and Appeal until 1874.

In 1878, Adam Wilson became chief justice in the Court of Common Pleas and, in 1884, was named to the same function in the Court of Queen's Bench.

Adam Wilson cited American law and tried to show independence from British law.

Adam Wilson was credited with the huge amount of research that he conducted for his rulings.

In 1861 Adam Wilson wrote The constable's guide; a sketch of the office of constable.

At his retirement Adam Wilson was the longest-serving judge in Ontario.

Adam Wilson married Emma Dalton on May 1,1841, and adopted a daughter.