Thomas Scott (judge)

Thomas Scott (baptised 18 October 1746 – July 29 1824) was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in the parish of Kingoldrum, Angus, Scotland and studied law at Lincoln's Inn in London. He was called to the bar in 1793. In 1800, he was appointed attorney general in Upper Canada. He was appointed to the Executive Council for the province in 1805. The following year, he became Chief Justice for Upper Canada and was appointed to the Executive Council.

In 1811, already suffering from ill health, Scott applied for a pension so that he could retire, but was refused. During the War of 1812, the administration sought to ensure the loyalty of its subjects by imposing martial law and, in 1814, by prosecuting those who had expressed sympathy for the enemy with treason in a series of trials at Ancaster known as the "Bloody Assize". Fifteen men were condemned to death of which eight were executed. These actions increased Scott's workload.

In 1816, Scott was finally granted a pension and retired. He was succeeded by William Dummer Powell as Chief Justice for the province. Scott died at York (Toronto) in 1824.

Scott Township in York County, now part of Uxbridge, was named after Scott.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3123 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before=Henry Allcock 1802–1806
title=Chief Justice of Upper Canada
years=1806–1816
after=William Dummer Powellsuccession box | before=Robert Isaac Dey Gray | title=Attorney General of Upper Canada| years=1801–1806 | after=TBD