Name/Title
Portrait of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819-1894), standing. First Chief Justice Crown Colony of B.C.Entry/Object ID
2016.01.18Description
Photograph
Reproduction (2015) from 1875 b/w photograph by unknown photographer.
This black and white image shows Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, a British lawyer, politician, and judge. In 1858, Begbie became the first Chief Justice of the new Crown Colony of British Columbia in colonial times and in the first decades after British Columbia joined Confederation as a province of Canada serving from 1871 until his death in 1894.
It is a full-length portrait, with Begbie slightly turned to the left. He is wearing a hat, long jacket and vest and his pants are tucked in to high leather boots. He is holding a pipe in his left hand and his right hand is in his pant's pocket.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Reproduction, black and white photo on paperSubject Place
Region
Pacific NorthwestContinent
North AmericaContext
Likely born on a British ship at the Cape of Good Hope, Begbie first lived in Mauritius, and later in Guernsey. Following studies at Elizabeth College, Trinity College - Cambridge, and later Peterhouse College he obtained a BA in 1841. After articling, Begbie became a barrister three years later. In 1858 his name was put forward for the position of judge of the new colony of B.C.
With the influx of over 30,000 prospectors and others during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush from 1858 and the later Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861, Begbie played a crucial role in establishing law and order in the B.C. Interior and the mining camps. His efforts and those of Governor James Douglas ensured that the colony remained British, to later become part of Canada. Begbie traveled throughout the province, on foot and later on horseback and by canoe administering justice. In 1865 alone, he reportedly covered some 5,600 kilometres. Begbie also played a valuable role as a member of the colonial executive and as the originator and draftsman of important legislation.
Begbie was viewed as contentious, yet he also had a lifelong interest in progressive law reforms, he made sound civil litigation decisions, he persuaded the federal government to preserve traditional Indigenous fishing rights on the lower Fraser River, and he expressed a positive opinion of B.C.'s First Nations and Chinese peoples. He was also seen as controversial for his racial attitudes at times, for accusations of judicial impropriety, for his denunciations of juries who reached verdicts he did not like, and in particular, for his role in the trials of six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs which resulted in their execution. The six were exonerated in 2014.
After his death, this man of many contradictions, came to be known as the 'Hanging Judge', although many dispute this conclusion. Begbie was made a Knight Bachelor according to the London Gazette of November 19, 1875.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
UnknownRole
PhotographerArtist
Royal B.C. Museum and ArchivesRole
PrintmakerDate made
2015Time Period
19th Century, 21st CenturyInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
Printed label in window mat cutout:
Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, B.A., M.A., Kt.
(1819 -1894)
Chief Justice of British Columbia
(1871-1894)
Bachelor, Barrister, Judge, Politician, Sportsman, Philanthropist
Founding President of the Union Club of British ColumbiaDimensions
Dimension Description
Visible imageHeight
24.8 cmWidth
19.7 cmAcquisition
Acquisition Method
GiftNotes
Image A-08953 courtesy of Royal B.C. Museum and ArchivesRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
2001.01.29 Sir Matthew Baille Begbie on Horseback; Cariboo Justice
2001.01.34 Portrait of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819-1894)…
2016.01.18 Portrait of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819-1894), standing
2016.01.19 Portrait of Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819-1894), seated