A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose

merchants of Montreal. Judge Torrance received his primary education at private schools at Montreal, at the Nicolet College, and at Edinburgh under private tutors; and finally entered the University of Edinburgh, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1844, ranking second in the order of proficiency in classics and mathematics. He had previously, in 1839-40, followed courses of lectures at Paris, France, at the Ecole de Médecine and at the Collège de France. He studied law with the late Duncan Fisher, Q.C., and the Hon. James Smith, subsequently attorney-general for Lower Canada, and a judge of the Queen’s Bench. In 1848 he was called to the bar of Lower Canada. In 1852 he formed a partnership with Alexander Morris, who afterwards for a time filled the position of chief justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba—the firm being known as Torrance and Morris. In 1861, Hon. Mr. Morris having entered the political arena, was elected to represent South Lanark in the Legislative Assembly, and shortly afterwards removed to the province of Ontario. He was succeeded in the firm by his brother, J. L. Morris. On 27th August, 1868, Mr. Torrance was appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, and from that time until his death earned for himself the reputation of an eminent jurist, and an upright, careful and painstaking judge. His decisions in business matters were always considered of great value, on account of his extensive experience in commercial law while practising at the bar. Judge Torrance was lecturer and professor of Roman law in McGill University (of which he was governor, and from which he obtained the degree of B.C.L. in 1856) from 1854 to 1870. In 1865, he was one of the commissioners appointed to enquire into the St. Albans raid affair, and did good service. In conjunction with Strachan Bethune, Q.C., J. L. Morris, and the late Mr. La Franaie, he brought out the _Lower Canada Jurist_, to which he contributed for many years. He was intimately connected with the Fraser Institute, and with the Hon. J. J. C. Abbott devoted much of his time towards establishing a free library in connection therewith. In religion Judge Torrance was a staunch Presbyterian, and he took a deep interest in all things relating to that church. He was president of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school Association, and after being connected with the Coté Street Church, Montreal, for many years, he became an elder of Crescent Street Church, which position he held at the time of his death. He contributed materially to the foundation of the Montreal Presbyterian College, and always took a lively interest in its welfare. He was also a life governor of the Montreal General Hospital. He subscribed largely to the general fund of the Home and Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian church. He took special interest in the missions to the Jews. He always identified himself enthusiastically with Sabbath-school work. He was known as a generous, kind-hearted and public-spirited citizen, and his death was deeply regretted by a large number of personal friends and the whole community, by whom he was held in great esteem. Some ten years ago he married Mrs. Pugh, of Louisville, Ky. He left a widow, but had no children. Judge Torrance was not reputed to be very wealthy, but during his lifetime his donations to the institutions with which he was connected were large and numerous. * * * * * =Thomson, Donald Cameron=, Lieutenant-Colonel, Lumber Merchant, Quebec, one of the most esteemed and successful men of business in the ancient capital, was born in 1823, at Kenlochiel House, near St. Andrew’s, county of Argenteuil, province of Quebec. His father served as a commissariat officer during the war of 1812; and his mother belonged to the family of Lochiel. In 1860, when the _Trent_ outrage aroused the loyalty of Canada’s sons, Mr. Thomson raised a company of volunteers, and was attached to the battalion commanded by Lieut.-Col. De Salaberry, and on the latter retiring from the service, Captain Thomson was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and given command of the battalion. He was out during the Fenian troubles, and subsequently retired retaining his rank. For a number of years Colonel Thomson has been actively engaged, and still continues, in the export trade of timber to Britain, etc. He took a prominent part in the creation of the Union Bank of Canada, at Quebec, as well as in the formation of several commercial companies connected with river navigation. At present he is a director of the Union Bank of Canada; vice-president of the Quebec Steamship Company; president of the Saguenay & Lake St. John Railway Company; director of the St. Lawrence Steamboat Company; and director of the Quebec Ferry Company. A lover of sport Col. Thomson divides his summer vacation between the secluded salmon pools of the Murray river, leased to him, and his rustic cottage at Pointe-à-Pic, Murray Bay. Later on one may meet him scouring for cariboo, with an Indian guide, the snow-clad heights in rear of Baie St. Paul, known as Les Jardins. In politics the colonel may be counted among the Liberal-Conservatives, and in religion an adherent of the Presbyterian church. He is married to Annie Atkinson, niece of the late Henry Atkinson, of Spencerwood. * * * * * =Oulton, Alfred E.=, Dorchester, Judge of Probate for the county of Westmoreland, New Brunswick, was born in Westmoreland, on the 2nd March,