Martin, William Melville

Person

Martin, William Melville

1876-1961

The Honourable William Melville Martin, the second premier of Saskatchewan, was born at Norwich, Ontario in 1876, the son of the Reverend W.M. Martin and Christina Martin. The Reverend Martin was a Presbyterian clergyman and a member of a family which had long been identified with the industrial, political and social life of the county of Wellington, Ontario. William Melville received an honours degree in classics in 1898 and after attending Normal School he taught classics at the high school at Harriston, Ontario. In 1901 he began the study of law at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, winning scholarships in 1902 and 1903. In the fall of 1903 he moved to Regina where he entered the law firm of his cousin, James Balfour. In 1908 Mr. Martin accepted the nomination for the Regina Federal constituency and was elected Member of Parliament in the 1908 general election. He was returned to Parliament in the 1911 general election. In 1916 Mr. Martin was called on to lead the Saskatchewan Liberals when the Honourable Walter Scott retired from office. On November 13, 1916, he was elected by acclamation to the Legislative Assembly representing the Regina Constituency and he successfully contested that seat in 1917 and 1921. Besides being the Premier of the province, Mr Martin also held the cabinet posts of Minister of Education, President of the Executive Council, Minister of Railways, Attorney General, and Minister of Telephones and Telegraphs. He retired from politics in 1922 to become a judge of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. From 1941 to 1961 he served as Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.

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