William Drummond Hogg

Hogg, William Drummond, Ottawa, Barrister-at-law, was born in the town of Perth, County of Lanark, Ont., on the 29th February, 1848. His father was David Hogg, a son of Lieutenant John Hogg, of the Royal artillery, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who as an officer, took part at the siege of Copernhagen, at the battle of the Pyramids, battle of the Nile, etc. David Hogg emigrated to Canada in 1832, and was one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Perth, where for many years he carried on a large furniture manufacturing business. He died in 1882. His mother was Isabella Inglis, and came to Canada in 1831, and settled with her relatives in Lanark village, County Lanark. Mrs. Hogg was of the Hall family there, whose branches now extend to many parts of Ontario - Peterborough, Sarnia, Brockville, Perth, etc. She died in 1881. Our subject was educated at the high school, Perth, pursuing a course of general studies. He commenced the study of the law in the office of E. G. Malloch, county crown attorney, Perth, and afterwards spend several years in the office of Paterson, Bain & Paterson, of Toronto. He wa called to the bar at Hilary term, 1874. Mr. Hogg was for many years connected with temperance societies, and at one time held all the offices in the order of the Sons of Temperance. He is a member of St. Andrew's Society, Ottawa, and for many years was solicitor for the society. In 1882 he made an extended tour through Manitoba and the North-West, being at this time interested in lands in that part of the Dominion. Mr. Hogg was brought up a Presbyterian, but he is not a member of any church. He believes that the Christian religion, although it has not accomplished all it might be supposed capable of, is the only religious system worthy the name of religion. He was married on September 14th, 1875, to Louisa Agnes Rattray, third daughter of the late Dr. Charles Rattray, of Cornwall, Ontario. After admission to the bar, in 1874, Mr. Hogg became a partner with Daniel O'Connor, of Ottawa, barrister-at-law, and has continued to practice with him under the firm name of O'Connor & Hogg since that time. During the last few years he has been engaged before the Supreme and Exchequer courts at Ottawa, on behalf of the Crown, in a number of important cases, involving both prerogative and constitutional questions. Amongst such cases were the now somewhat celebrated one of Doutre vs the Queen, and MacLean vs the Queen. Our subject was led to the study of law by the accidental circumstance of reading, when a boy, the life of the Honourable William Wirt, once attorney-general of the United States, whose career attracted his mind to the profession to which a man of such high moral character and great ability belonged. The late lamented James Bethune, Q.C., was married to Mr. Hogg's wife's sister, and for many years he had the great pleasure of being the intimate friend of that brilliant lawyer. Through his father, our subject is a relative of the "Ettrick Shepherd," the great Scottish poet, James Hogg. He has never taken any active interest or part in politics, but he believes in the efficacy of our colonial position, with the present form of government of the country.