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Alexander Hannah is one of
the talented members of the Calgary bar, whose ability in the field of
corporation law has placed him with the foremost barristers of the
Dominion. He was born at Whithorn, Wigtowrnshire, Scotland, April 13,
1877, a son of Henry R. and Hannah Anderson (Gibson) Hannah, also
natives of that country. His father, who was well known as an
agriculturist, died in 1899. His mother is still living.
The subject of this
article was educated privately in Scotland and at an early age he was
articled to John Campbell Maclullich, S. S. C. and crown prosecutor for
Argyllshire, afterward completing his articles with George F. Bryce, W.
S., Edinburgh, Scotland. Mr. Hannah became a law student in the
University of Edinburgh, being fully qualified in 1899. In the following
year he became identified with the firm of Mitchell & Campbell,
solicitors, Perth, Scotland, and in 1901 was admitted to practice before
the courts of Scotland. In 1905 he commenced practice ill Glasgow,
Scotland, and continued to do so until September, 1911, when lured by
the call of the west, he left his native land and came to Canada.
Believing that the western part of the Dominion would afford him better
opportunities for advancement, he made his way to Calgary, Alberta, and
became associated with the firm of Lougheed, Bennett & Company, and
while with them was admitted to the Alberta bar. In September, 1912, Mr.
Hannah became a senior member of the firm of Hannah, Stir- ton & Fisher,
with which he was connected until the dissolution of the firm in 1919.
In 1920 he rejoined the firm of Lougheed, Bennett & Company, being thus
connected until the formation of the present firm of Bennett, Hannah &
Sanford. The firm stands high in professional circles and is conducting
all and lucrative practice. Mr. Hannah is well versed in all branches of
jurisprudence but has given particular attention to corporation law,
being regarded as an expert in this branch of the profession, and in
addition to his practice he acts as lecturer on this subject to the
University of Alberta.
On the 27th of May, 1914,
Mr. Hannah was united in marriage to Helen Archibald, a daughter of the
late A. R. Archibald of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs.
Hannah have two children: Richard Henry and Nancy Anderson, aged,
respectively, seven and five years.
Mr. Hannah has not
confined his activities to his professional work; for some time he acted
as secretary to the Liberal Unionist Association of the Central Division
of Glasgow. In Canada he is an adherent of the Conservative party. In
religious faith he is a Presbyterian. He is identified with the Masonic
order and finds recreation in golf, fishing and shooting. He has been
honored with the presidency and vice presidency of the Calgary Bar
Association. Among other activities it may be mentioned that Mr. Hannah
has served with the Volunteer Regiments of Princess Louise's Brigade of
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Royal Scots Brigade (Queen's,
Edinburgh) and the Scottish Horse. He is deeply interested in the Boy
Scout movement—an epoch-making adventure in character building and a
strong power for civic righteousness, and while in the old country was
president of the western district of Glasgow and in Alberta has served
as provincial commissioner and as assistant commissioner of the Alberta
organization. He studies broadly and thinks deeply and has always been a
patient and diligent inquirer after the truth. Whatever he does is for
the best interests of his clients and for the honor of his profession,
and no mail brings to either a more unqualified allegiance nor riper
ability. |
