The Badgley family is one of the old and prominent families of Montreal, their connection with the city’s history dating back to 1785.
Four generations of this family have been prominently identified with the city’s business and professional interests. John C. N. Badgley, active in business circles for many years, remained a resident of this city from his birth on December 7, 1856, until his death on March 7, 1906.
He was a son of the Hon. William Badgley, D. C. L., one of the eminent representatives of the judiciary of the province, and a nephew of Dr. Francis Badgley, one of the most prominent members of the medical profession of his day and an early member of the McGill College faculty. Dr. Badgley died in England where he resided the latter years of his life.
Hon. William Badgley, whose entire life was spent in Montreal, was born in this city, March 27, 1801, his parents being Francis and Elizabeth (Lilly) Badgley. The father, a representative of an old Derbyshire family, was born in London and for years was a well known Montreal merchant. He was likewise a recognized leader in political circles and represented his city in the provincial parliament from 1801 until 1805. The father of the Hon. William Badgley, Francis Badgley, was one of the early settlers of Montreal, arriving in 1785. Francis Badgley became one of the prominent fur merchants in Montreal and married Elizabeth Lilly, daughter of John Lilly.
William Badgley, after pursuing his more specifically literary education with the Rev. Alexander Skakel, studied law in Montreal and was admitted to the bar in November, 1823. He entered at once upon active and successful practice, was created queen’s counsellor in 1847 and received the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law from McGill University in 1843. For about twenty years he practised his profession in Montreal and gained distinction as a barrister. He was also the author of a work called Remarks on Registrar’s Office which was published in 1837. In 1840 he was called to public life in his appointment as commissioner of bankrupts, in which capacity he served until 1844, when he was appointed circuit judge. He was also secretary of the Constitutional Association which aided in the reunion of the Canadas in 1841 and two or three years before that act was consummated he was one of the delegates sent to England to further the movement. He continued upon the bench as circuit judge until 1847 and then resumed the private practice of law. Judicial honors, however, were again conferred upon him when on the 27th of January, 1855, he was appointed puisne judge of the superior court of Lower Canada, so continuing until the 1st of September, 1862, when he was transferred to the court of queen’s bench as temporary assistant judge. Later he was appointed puisne judge of that court on the 17th of August, 1866, and after presiding over its proceedings for eight years was retired on a pension in June, 1874, because of partial deafness. Devotedly attached to his profession, systematic and methodical in habit, sober and discreet in judgment, calm in temper, diligent in research, conscientious in the discharge of every duty, courteous and kindly in demeanor and inflexibly just on all occasions, these qualities enabled his honor, William Badgley, to take first rank among those who have held high judicial offices in the province. His reported opinions are monuments to his profound legal learning and superior ability. They show a thorough mastery of the questions involved, a rare simplicity of style and a remarkable terseness and clearness in the statement of the principles upon which the opinions rest. His name is also interwoven with the history of legislation for he sat for Missisquoi in the Canadian assembly from 1844 until 1851, and for the city of Montreal from the latter date until the general election in 1854. He was a member of the executive council and attorney general for Lower Canada from April 23, 1847, to March 10, 1848. He always gave stanch allegiance to the conservative party, feeling that in its principles lay the strongest elements of good government. His fraternal connections were with the Masons, and he was district and provincial grand master for England from December, 1849, until his demise.
With him passed away one of the links which have bound the bustling men of middle age today with a generation of which the youth of today know but very little, of men more proud and precise in their manners than we are, and whose courtesy and politeness was a part of their daily life. The loss of their influence and example is no small one.
In 1834, in London, England, Judge Badgley was married to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, the eldest daughter of Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Taylor of the Twentieth Regiment B. N. T. Six children were born to this marriage; the wife and mother passed away in 1874.
John C. N. Badgley, youngest son of the Hon. William Badgley, pursued his education in Montreal high school and McGill University after spending some time as a student at Port Hope. When a young man he engaged in the coal business and was connected with that department of commercial activity in Montreal throughout his entire life. He became one of the active business men of this city, his energy and enterprise leading him into important, commercial relations and winning for him a high standing as a business man and citizen.
He married Miss Mary E. Badgley, a daughter of Francis H. and Margaret (Drummond) Badgley of Ottawa.
John C. N. Badgley not only figured prominently in commercial circles but was also a well known member of the Board of Trade, a past master of St. Paul’s Lodge of Masons and a member of the Christ Church cathedral. His death on March 7, 1906, left a widow, son and daughter. The latter, Elizabeth Ruth, married October 10, 1913, John William Shaw of Montreal, while the former, Clement Montagu, was born September 17, 1886, in Montreal and is the fourth generation of the Badgley family that have been connected with Montreal’s business interests. He finished his education in this city and after spending some time in travel abroad, concluded to enter upon a business, rather than a professional, career. He was in the employ of the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company for a time, after which he became assistant head clerk for the Atlas Insurance Company. With the valuable experience thus gained, Mr. Badgley entered the insurance and real-estate business on his own account, and at once secured a clientele that gave him a high position among the best class of men in this line of business. He subsequently became associated with David A. Lewis, as the firm of Lewis & Badgley, in real estate and insurance, with offices in the Merchants Bank building.