Henry Allcock

Who was Henry Allcock?

Henry Allcock was a judge and political figure in Upper and Lower Canada.

His family was from Edgbaston and he was born in Birmingham, England in 1759 and studied law at Lincoln's Inn in London. He was called to the bar in 1791. In 1798, he was appointed judge in the Court of King's Bench of Upper Canada. In 1800, he was elected to the 3rd Parliament of Upper Canada representing Durham, Simcoe and 1st York. However, a petition was raised citing irregularities on the part of his agent and he was unseated. Angus Macdonell won the seat in a by-election.

He presided over the trial of John Small for the murder of John White in a duel. Small was set free. In 1802, he became chief justice for Upper Canada and, in 1803, he was appointed to the Executive Council for the province.

In 1805, he became chief justice and a member of the Executive Council for Lower Canada despite support for another candidate, Jonathan Sewell, by the upper class of the province and the lieutenant governor. He was named speaker for the Legislative Council of Lower Canada in January 1808.

He died of a fever at Quebec City in 1808, while in office.