William Dummer Powell 1755-1834

Photos by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted September, 2011

Plaque Location

The County of Essex
The City of Windsor
On the east side of Sandwich Street just north of Brock Street

Coordinates: N 42 18.023 W 83 04.594

Plaque Text

The first professionally trained lawyer appointed a judge in what is now Ontario, Powell was born in Boston and educated abroad. He opened a legal practice in Montreal in 1779 and quickly gained a reputation as a brilliant advocate, able to conduct cases in French and English. Powell was appointed sole presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas here in the District of Hesse in 1789. When the district courts were abolished five years later, he was instrumental in establishing the provinces Court of King's Bench. Steadfast in his adherence to the principals of English common law, Powell resisted political pressure throughout his career. In 1816 he was appointed Chief Justice of Upper Canada.

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