Edward John Hemming

Edward John Hemming, (Born London 30 August 1823 – 17 September 1905), was a lawyer, politician and author.

Hemming was the seventh and last child of Henry Keene Hemming (1793 - 1847) and Sophia Wirgman (1785 - 1870). After finishing his studies at Clapham Grammar School in south-western London. He was a midshipman in the Royal Navy from 1836 to 1845, then joined his father not only ran his own farm but was also agent for the Duke of Devonshire at Lismore Castle, Ireland.

Hemming left Ireland on the invitation of his cousin, Christopher Dunkin, to study law at McGill College in 1851, after which he was admitted to the bar of Lower-Canada on 7 May 1855. He moved to Montreal in 1855 under the guidance of Alexander Hutchison Lunn until 1858 when he moved to Drummondville and established a large farm as did his father. In the same year, he married Sophia Louisa Ribinson and they went on to have 8 children. He was joined at the farm by his eldest brother, Henry Hemming in 1864. In 1899, he moved to Knowlton (now Lac Broome). Aged 82, and having celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with a family reunion sevens week earlier, he died and was buried in the cemetery at Knowlton.

Political activities

Hemming successfully ran provincially as a Conservative in the Drummond-Arthabaska riding in 1867, but was defeated in his re-election efforts of 1871 by the Liberal, Wilfrid Laurier. He was an active member of the Church of England, working on religious education in schools and serving as marguillier of St. George's Church in Drummond ville. He was a longtime delegate to the diocesan and Synod of Quebec.

Writing

In 1853, he published "Negligence of Chemistry by the Farmers followed in 1856 by "The Digested Index to the Statutes in Force in Lower Canada".

Sources

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=6779 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]