Creation and Beginnings of the Court
Current and Former Chief Justices
Current and Former Puisne Judges
About the Court
Judges of the Court
The Honourable Mr. Justice John Douglas Armour
![[Photo - John Douglas Armour]](/web/20061029064224im_/http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/_images/display/armour-tn.jpg)
John Douglas Armour was born in the township of Otonabee, Upper Canada (Ontario),
on May 4, 1830. He was the son of Samuel Armour. After graduating with a B.A.
from the University of Toronto in 1850, he studied law in the office of his
brother, Robert Armour, then in that of P. M. M. VanKoughnet. He was called
to the bar in 1853 and practised in Cobourg, Canada West (Ontario), for 25
years, first with Sidney Smith and later with H. F. Holland. In 1877 he was
appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench of Ontario and was named its chief
justice in November 1887. In 1901 he became Chief Justice of Ontario. The following
year, on November 21, 1902, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Three months later, the imperial government appointed him to the Alaskan Boundary
Commission. He served on the Supreme Court for seven months. Justice Armour
died on July 11, 1903 at the age of 73, while working with the Commission in
London, England.
