Robert Alexander Harrison

Who was Robert Alexander Harrison?

Robert Alexander Harrison was an Ontario lawyer, judge and political figure. He represented West Toronto in the 1st Canadian Parliament as a Conservative member.

Harrison was born in Montreal, Lower Canada in 1833, the son of Irish immigrants. The family moved to Markham Township and then Toronto. Harrison studied at Upper Canada College and Trinity College, Toronto. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1855. He served as chief clerk of the Crown Law Department from 1854 to 1859; and then entered private practice. In 1867, Harrison was named Queen's Counsel. He served on Toronto city council in 1867 and 1868. He was also a director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. In 1875, he was named chief justice for the Court of Queen's Bench of Ontario.

Harrison contributed articles to several legal journals and newspapers, serving for a time as joint editor for the Upper Canada Law Journal. He was one of the arbitrators involved in establishing the western boundary for the province of Ontario.

Harrison died in Toronto in 1878, at the age of 45.