Charles Doherty

Who was Charles Doherty?

Charles Joseph Doherty, PC, KC was a Canadian politician and jurist.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Marcus Doherty, an Irish-born judge of the Supreme Court for the Province of Quebec and Elizabeth Doherty, Doherty was educated at St. Mary's College and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from McGill University in 1876 winning the Elizabeth Torrance Gold Medal, awarded to the student who completes the program with the most distinguished standing upon graduation. In 1885 he served as a Lieutenant with the 65th Battalion, Mount Royal Rifles in the Northwest Rebellion. He was created a King's Counsel in 1887.

Doherty was a lawyer and also taught civil and International law at McGill University prior to being appointed a judge on the Quebec Superior Court from 1891 until 1906.

He was a defeated candidate for the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the electoral district of Montreal West in the 1881 election and again for Montreal Centre in the 1886 election. He was elected as the Conservative candidate to the Canadian House of Commons for the electoral district of St. Anne in the 1908 federal election.