Robertson, Alexander Rocke

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: T. M. Eastwood and Paul Williamson, “ROBERTSON, ALEXANDER ROCKE,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/robertson_alexander_rocke_11E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Lawyer, judge, and politician; b. 12 May 1841 in Chatham, Canada West, second son of Alexander Rocke Robertson and Effie Eberts; m. in 1868 in Chatham his cousin Margaret Bruce Eberts, and they had seven sons; d. 1 Dec. 1881 in Victoria, B.C.
    • Perhaps encouraged by his uncle, John Waddell, who had immigrated to British Columbia in 1862, Robertson left Canada West for Vancouver Island at the end of March 1864. Travelling the Panama route with his aunt and cousin, he arrived in Victoria on 14 May 1864. He found, however, that the bar of Vancouver Island was open only to lawyers of British training and therefore closed to Canadian barristers. For a short time Robertson worked as editor of one of Victoria’s newspapers, the Daily Chronicle. Displaying a keen mind and a breadth of reading, he wrote a series of penetrating editorials critical of the insularity of the local legal fraternity. 
    • When Island legislation to admit colonial lawyers on the same footing as those of British training stalled in Victoria, an impatient Robertson moved to New Westminster in November 1864, and was immediately admitted to the bar of British Columbia. The following February, after appropriate legislation had finally been enacted, he was also admitted to the bar of Vancouver Island. Robertson rapidly established a reputation as an outstanding advocate. From 1865 to 1867 he acted regularly both for the crown and as a defence attorney at sessions of the assize court held at Barkerville, even though in 1866 he moved his residence to Victoria upon the union of the two colonies.
    • Robertson began his political career in 1870 when he served one term as mayor of Victoria. After Governor Anthony Musgrave steered the colony through the shoals of opposition to confederation, Robertson, the object of a virtual draft by his constituents, topped the poll in Esquimalt in the 1871 election of the first provincial Legislative Assembly. The premier, John Foster McCreight, selected Robertson as provincial secretary.
  • Second Great grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=320
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206394099/alexander-rocke-robertson