Honourable James Cockburn, 1819-1883

A Father of Confederation, James Cockburn was born in Berwick, England, and came to Canada with his parents in 1832. Admitted to the bar in 1846, he formed a partnership with D.E. Boulton in Cobourg, and in 1849 established a law practice independently. Entering politics, he represented Northumberland West in the Legislative Assembly of Canada, 1861-67, and served as solicitor general, 1864-67. At the Quebec Conference of 1864 he shared in drafting the plan for Confederation, and in 1867 was elected the first Speaker of the new federal House of Commons, a post which he held until 1874. He resigned in 1881 owing to illness and died two years later.