George Browning Cramp, K. C

George Browning Cramp was for many years a veteran member of the Montreal bar and a distinguished representative of the profession, his opinions being largely accepted as authority on questions of real-estate law, in which department of jurisprudence he specialized. He was born in England in 1833, a son of Rev. J. M. Cramp, who came to Montreal to accept a position at the Baptist College. For years he was at the head of Acadia University in Nova Scotia and was one of the prominent educators in the maritime provinces.

In the schools of England and of Nova Scotia George B. Cramp pursued his education and qualified for the bar as a student in the law office of J. J. Day, K. C., an eminent member of the bar. Thorough and careful preliminary training resulted in his being called to the bar about 1855 and he entered upon active practice in connection with his former preceptor. The latter had been called to the bar in 1837 and was one of the most distinguished lawyers of Montreal at an early day. Following his retirement, Mr. Cramp entered upon active professional association with A. F. Lunn, K. C., under the style of Lunn & Cramp, a connection that was continued until the death of Mr. Lunn in 1894. Four years later, or in 1898, Mr. Cramp was joined by J. Armitage Ewing, K. C., under the style of Cramp & Ewing, and two years later they admitted George S. McFadden, at which time the firm name was changed to Cramp, Ewing & McFadden. This relation was maintained until the death of the senior partner, who was then in his eightieth year. While well versed in the various departments of the law, he specialized in the field of real estate and became an expert on legal questions relative thereto. He was regarded as an expert in the matter of titles. He was retained in a consulting capacity by such corporations as McGill University, Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company, the Montreal Loan & Mortgage Company, and the White Star Dominion Line. He remained throughout his entire professional career an active and discriminating student of law, constantly broadening his knowledge by reading and investigation, as well as experience.

Mr. Cramp held membership in the Mount Royal Club and the St. James Club and was a casual attendant of the Olivet Baptist church. For many years Mr. Cramp spent the summer season at Saratoga, New York, or at Lachine, while his city residence was at No. 62 McTavish Street, where his sister, the last survivor of the family, now resides. He passed away February 16, 1913, at the age of eighty years, leaving behind him the record of a well spent life, in which he had wisely employed his time and talents.