William John White

William John White, whose authorship no less than his practice has gained him eminence and success, is regarded as one of the foremost representatives of the Montreal bar. Contemporaneous writers pronounce upon him high encomiums for his contributions to legal as well as to general literature. A native of Peterboro, Ontario, he was born January 29, 1861, a son of the late Richard White, D. C. L., and Jean (Riddel) White. After completing his studies in the Montreal high school he entered McGill University, where he pursued a classical and legal course, winning the B. A. degree in 1881, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law in 1882, while in 1885 the Master of Arts degree was conferred upon him and in 1902 that of Doctor of Civil Law. He completed his legal studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and in 1883 entered upon the active work of the profession as an advocate. He has since successfully practiced and was created king’s counsel in 1899. He is now senior partner of the law firm of White & Buchanan and is recognized as one of the leaders of the Montreal bar. In 1901 he was made batonnier. His law practice has been of an important as well as of an extensive character. He was retained as counsel by the Mexican government in the boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico in 1911. His high standing in his profession and his thorough understanding of vital and significant governmental problems have brought him into prominence in various international affairs. He served as a member of the board of investigation appointed by the minister of labor in the United Shoe Machinery case, and his opinions have been sought on various questions of far-reaching importance. He represented the Montreal bar at the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association at Albany in 1902 and at the Illinois State Bar Association in 1906, and on the latter occasion read a paper on The Law of Quebec. He is the author of a treatise on Canadian Company Law which was published in 1901.

Aside from his profession Mr. White has been connected with several business enterprises and public projects of importance. In 1911 he became one of the directors of the Sherwin-Williams Company of Canada, and from 1906 to 1908 he served as alderman of the city. He is a director and was elected the vice president of the new Technical School of Montreal. He was one of the founders of the Society of Historical Studies and was chosen to the presidency of that organization for 1891-2. He was likewise one of the organizers of the Society of Canadian Literature and of the Canadian branch of the American Folk Lore Society. From 1889 until 1891 he published a monthly magazine known as Canadiana and Dr. John Reade termed him “A writer of taste and force,” while the Montreal Witness spoke of him as “A thoroughly capable man.” Mr. White belongs to a number of the leading clubs, including the St. James, University, Outremont Golf and the Montreal Jockey Clubs of Montreal; the Rideau Club of Ottawa; the Quebec Garrison Club; and the Constitutional Club of London, England. It is in his law practice, however, that he has won the recognition that has placed him in the present enviable position which he occupies. He has ever in his practice been faithful to his clients, fair to his adversaries and candid to the court. In many cases with which he has been connected he has exhibited the possession of every faculty of which a lawyer may be proud—skill in presentation of his own evidence, extraordinary ability in cross examination, strong grasp of every feature of the case, power to secure favorable rulings from the judge, unusual familiarity with human nature and untiring industry. These qualities have gained him notable success in law practice.