Edmund Allen Meredith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edmund Allen Meredith (7 October 1817 – 2 January 1899) LL.D., D.C.L. was a Canadian politician and Principal of McGill University, Montreal.

Born at Ardtrea, Co. Tyrone on 7th October, 1817, he was the fourth son of The Rev. Thomas Meredith (1777-1819) D.D., F.T.C.D., by his wife Elizabeth Mary (1792-1855), the eldest daughter of The Very Rev. Richard Graves (1763-1829) D.D., S.F.T.C.D., Dean of Ardagh, Co. Cork. He was named after his uncle, (Christopher) Edmund Allen LL.D., Barrister of Dublin, the son of Christopher Edmund Allen of the Manor of Highgate, Co. Fermanagh.

His father died mysteriously in 1819 and his mother's second marriage in 1824 led her to Canada. She took four of her children, but left the other three, including Edmund, in Ireland. He was left in the care of his maternal uncle, 'Ireland's most celebrated surgeon', Robert James Graves (1797-1853) Esq. M.D., F.R.C.S., of Merrion Square, Dublin, and later Cloghan Castle, Co. Offaly.

Predominantly brought up by Graves' elderly housekeeper in 1827 he was sent to Castleknock, a boarding school outside of Dublin. In 1833 he entered Trinity College, Dublin, winning a classical scholarship in his second year and prizes in political economy and science. After graduating (B.A., M.A.) he went to King's Inns, Dublin to study law.

Whilst still at King's Inns, he was curious to see how his estranged brothers and sisters lived in Canada and so he embarked on a voyage there in 1842. He joined his elder brother, William Collis Meredith in Montreal and briefly resumed his study of law at his offices there. He returned to Ireland in 1844 to be called to the Irish bar (LL.D.), but later that year returned to Montreal, invited to do so by William.

In his first diary entry of that year Edmund talks of his decision to leave Ireland for Canada, revealing his personal angst over the upheaval : ‘It now seems strange to me that I could have dreamed, even for an instant, of banishing myself from the society of my brother (Richard Graves Meredith), and setting up on my own account among complete strangers.’

At an evening reception in 1843 held at Rosedale, William Botsford Jarvis’ home, Edmund was remembered by his future wife, Jarvis’ favourite daughter, Frances, as being ‘strikingly handsome’, looking ‘very delightful when he entered the drawing room. He was tall (five foot eleven), very slim (one hundred and sixty-five pounds), and distinguished in appearance - his hazel eyes were most expressive, and his jet black hair set off his charming face. His manner was easy and courteous, his voice one to coax the birds of the bough, and his dark blue suit of broadcloth was in excellent taste and was worn with an air.’