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Canadian History
John Muir


M. A., B. A., LL. B., Hamilton, was born at Grimsby, Lincoln county, on the 13th June, 1843. His father was Andrew P. Muir, and his mother was Sarah, nee Smith. John Muir's grand-father, Andrew Muir, came from Scotland to America in 1792. He reached Niagara in 1793, and died in 1855 in the 92nd year of his age, well respected and beloved by all who knew him. The father of our subject, Andrew P. Muir, was born on 12th April, 1803. He was one of the first white children born in the township of Grimsby. When he was a young man there were troublous times in Canada, and he was out during the rebellion of 1837 on the loyalist side. He was afterwards a captain in the Militia. He is still living. Our subject's mother died in 1876, in the 70th year of her age. She was the daughter of a U. E. Loyalist, Mr. Isaac Smith. John Muir was educated at St. Andrew's Parochial School, under the charge of the Rev. F. J. Lundy, D. C. D., Rector of Grimsby; the common school; private tuition; the Grammar School, and finally at the University of Toronto, from which institution he graduated B. A. in 1865. The following year he took his degree of M. A. He obtained LL. B., with a silver medal, in 1873. In 1866 he entered upon a study of law, for which his tastes and inclinations seemed to fit him, in the office of Cameron & McMichael. He passed the attorney and barrister examinations in 1868 and 1869 successively. Having obtained his certificate to the bar, he made no delay in seeking to establish a practice. He proceeded to Grimsby, where he tried his fortune for a while; but although his success there was very fair, he was not satisfied with the prospects that the place at this time held out to his professional ambition. So in 1871 he returned to Hamilton, where he established himself by entering into partnership with Mr. John Crerar, now county attorney. Our subject is an enthusiast in his profession, yet has he sentiment and time to put at the disposal of other worthy employments as well. He obtained a first class certificate at the Military School in Toronto in 1865. He has not thus far made any decided effort to come into political prominence, although it cannot be said what the future may intend for him in this regard; but he has always been a Conservative, and believes Sir John Macdonald to be the only far-seeing and practical statesman in Canada. He approved of his general policy and methods, and is a staunch supporter of the national policy. he is a member of the Church of England, as his father and grandfather were; and with respect to his inclination in the matter of ritual, he is an old-fashioned evangelical. He believes in the inspiration of the Bible, and has no difficulty in reconciling that book with the declarations of science. He married in 1874, Anna Pettit, daughter of Jonathan R. Pettit, of Grimsby. By this union there are two children. At the time of leaving the Military School, Mr. Muir held the rank of captain, and was also drill instructor. He belongs to the Conservative Association, of Hamilton, and is one of the committee of management. If energy and ability, held in check and directed by good judgment, count for much, a good deal, in many ways, may be expected of this young barrister.


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