James Maclennan

James Maclennan (March 17, 1833 – June 9, 1915) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and Puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Canada.^[2]

The Honourable James Maclennan
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office October 5, 1905 – February 13, 1909
Nominated by	Wilfrid Laurier
Preceded by	Wallace Nesbitt
Succeeded by	Francis Alexander Anglin
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Victoria North
In office 1874–1875
Preceded by	Joseph Staples
Succeeded by	Hector Cameron
Personal details
Born	(1833-03-17)March 17, 1833 Lancaster, Upper Canada
Died	June 9, 1915(1915-06-09) (aged 82) Toronto, Ontario[1]
Political party	Liberal
Alma mater	Queen's University
Profession	Lawyer

Born in the township of Lancaster, Upper Canada (now Ontario),^[2] the son of Roderick Maclennan and Mary Macpherson, he received a Bachelor of Arts from Queen's University in 1849. He studied to be a lawyer and was called to the bar in 1857. He practised law with Oliver Mowat in Toronto until 1888, when he was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal.^[3] He was the editor of The Ontario Judicature Act, 1881 (1884)^[4]

Maclennan ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1871.^[1] In the 1874 federal election, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the riding of Victoria North. However, the election was declared void. He won the by-election in 1874 but again the election was declared void.^[2] In 1905, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and retired in 1909.^[3]

Maclennan was married twice: to Elizabeth McGill in 1862 and to Mary L. Strange in 1909,^[1] possibly children, but none surviving him.^[5]