Fonds
Born in St. Augustine (Florida), Samuel Gale (1783-1865) came to Canada with his Loyalist parents after the American Revolution. In 1823, he was made the chairman of the magistrates of the Quarter Sessions in Montréal. In 1834, Gale was appointed by Governor Aylmer as judge of the Court of King's Bench in Montreal. He was temporarily transferred to Trois-Rivières because of the storm of controversy which his appointment caused. Members of the Patriote Party claimed that Gale was a political partisan and consequently should not be given the judicial appointment. However, his appointment was upheld. He retired from the bench in 1848 because of ill health.
(Source: Guide to Archival Resources at McGill University: Private Papers at McGill University. McGill University Archives. 1985. Vol. 3, p. 277.)
Scope and Content
The Samuel Gale fonds deals with his political, legal and judicial activities as well as his private life.
The fonds consists primarily of correspondence with Earl of Dalhousie, concerning political matters and judicial activities; with the Earl of Selkirk and his factor, Alexander Mundell pertaining to legal and business affairs and with Lady Selkirk concerning her travels and their common friends.
(Source: Guide to Archival Resources at McGill University: Private Papers at McGill University. McGill University Archives. 1985. Vol. 3, p. 277.)
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This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation and Canadian Heritage.