his defeat in good part, and was somewhat consoled by the better showing
of his side at the Dominion election of 1887. In private life he is a
popular man, a keen sportsman, and a scholarly writer. Besides attending
to his large and lucrative practice, he is surrogate and judge of
Probate at Halifax. In 1883 he was appointed lecturer on “Torts” in the
Law School, Dalhousie University, a position which he still holds.
* * * * *
=Macpherson, Alexander=, Hardware Merchant, Montreal, was born at
Lancaster, county of Glengarry, Ontario, 10th August, 1830. His parents
were Kenneth Macpherson and Mary Rose. Mr. Macpherson received his
education in the schools in Lancaster, and in May, 1850, he went to
Montreal, and found employment in the establishment of the late John
Henry Evans, hardware merchant, where he remained for about five years.
He commenced business in May, 1855, in partnership with the late Walter
Benny, and on the death of this gentleman, Robert Benny, a brother of
the deceased, joined the firm, which has continued to do business up to
this time under the style first adopted, namely, Benny, Macpherson &
Co., and is now one of the leading hardware firms in Montreal. In
politics Mr. Macpherson is a Conservative, but being of a retiring
disposition he has never taken any prominent part in local contests. In
religion he is a Presbyterian, and takes an active interest in church
matters. He has been an elder in St. Paul’s Church, Montreal, for many
years, and on several occasions was appointed a commissioner to the
General Assembly. Mr. Macpherson has devoted himself strictly to
business, and to being upright in his dealings, may be attributed his
success in life. He has been joint executor of some important estates.
He is married to Jessie, daughter of Jacob Oldham and Jane Cochrane.
* * * * *
=Cooke, Right Rev. Thomas=, late Bishop of Three Rivers, Quebec, was
born at Pointe du Lac, the 9th February, 1792, and was the son of Thomas
Cooke, miller, formerly of Lisle, Ireland, and Isabel Gray, of Pointe du
Lac, Canada. He was ordained and entered holy orders September 11th,
1814, was vicar and secretary to Bishop Panet at Rivière Ouelle, and
afterwards, in 1817, became curate of Caracquette. On 1st March, 1824,
he became curate of St. Ambroise, and in 1835 was appointed to the
curacy of Three Rivers, with the title of vicar-general. On 8th June,
1852, his Holiness Pope Pius IX. appointed him first bishop of the
diocese of Three Rivers, and he took possession of his bishopric on the
18th October of the same year, the day of his consecration. He was a
prelate of commendable piety, indefatigable zeal, and consummate
prudence. In 1858 he had the good fortune to make the imposing and
solemn consecration of his beautiful cathedral, and in 1860 he founded
the College of Three Rivers, which he placed under the special patronage
of St. Joseph, to whom he paid remarkable devotion. Bishop Cooke died on
the 30th April, 1870, aged 78 years. The record of the late bishop is
without blemish. His whole life was devoted to the advancement of his
religion, the strengthening of his church, and he never became wearied
in doing good to all, both rich and poor. His virtues and talents were
of the first order, and place him for all time to come in an enviable
light.
* * * * *
=Prefontaine, Raymond Fournier=, B.C.L., Barrister, Montreal, M.P. for
Chambly, was born at Longueuil, province of Quebec, on 16th September,