Fairweather
Contributed by Gordon Fairweather
There is some confusion about whether Jack Hall Alliger Lee Fairweather (1878-1948), son of Authur C. Fairweather and Annie R. Lee Fair-weather, was born in Saint John or Rothesay. His parents moved permanently to Rothesay three years after his birth, and although his World War I records give his place of birth as Rothesay, it is possible that the family rented rather than owned property there at the time.
Mr. Fair-weather was educated at R.C.S. and earned a B.A. from UNB and an L.L.B. from the Harvard Law School. He practiced law in Saint John, taking over his father’s practice upon the latter’s death in 1911. He was twice married. His first wife, Agnes Clifton Tabor, bore him two daughters: Barbara, later married to Dr. F. Ralph Connell, and Hamlin, later married to Kingsley M. Hume. Jack’s second wife, Agnes Charlotte Mackeen, bore him four sons: Gordon, Jack, Richard (who died in infancy), and David. Although a widower of 37 with two dependent daughters, Mr. Fairweather served as an officer in the 4th Siege Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, from 1915 until the Armistice. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery.
Jack Fairweather was elected to the New Brunswick legislature in 1930 and was defeated (by less than 100 votes) in 1935. He was appointed to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick in 1935 and served until his death in 1948. It was said by some that “he was too fair to be a judge,” a curious comment on the requirements for judicial office. Mr. Fairweather was a devoted Anglican and served his church in many capacities within his own parish and the Diocese of Fredericton.
Mr. Fair-weather was educated at R.C.S. and earned a B.A. from UNB and an L.L.B. from the Harvard Law School. He practiced law in Saint John, taking over his father’s practice upon the latter’s death in 1911. He was twice married. His first wife, Agnes Clifton Tabor, bore him two daughters: Barbara, later married to Dr. F. Ralph Connell, and Hamlin, later married to Kingsley M. Hume. Jack’s second wife, Agnes Charlotte Mackeen, bore him four sons: Gordon, Jack, Richard (who died in infancy), and David. Although a widower of 37 with two dependent daughters, Mr. Fairweather served as an officer in the 4th Siege Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, from 1915 until the Armistice. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery.
Jack Fairweather was elected to the New Brunswick legislature in 1930 and was defeated (by less than 100 votes) in 1935. He was appointed to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick in 1935 and served until his death in 1948. It was said by some that “he was too fair to be a judge,” a curious comment on the requirements for judicial office. Mr. Fairweather was a devoted Anglican and served his church in many capacities within his own parish and the Diocese of Fredericton.
Percy Rainford Lee Fairweather (1874-1952), son of Authur C. Fairweather and his wife Annie Rebecca Lee, was born in Saint John in 1874 and moved with his parents and siblings to Rothesay in 1881. Their home, Firshade, has remained in the family ever since and is currently owned by Percy’s daughter Margaret Bourne.
Mr. Fairweather served with the Canadian Forces in South Africa in 1901. He was a devout Anglican and an environmentalist and conservationist long before these terms became popular. His nephews used to delight at being summoned to “frolics” at Firshade where Mr. Fairweather had them “walk” the book to remove branches and other impediments to its natural flow. Mr. Fairweather carried on in the insurance business started by his father under the firm name A.C. fair-weather & Sons Ltd. With premises at 42 Princess Street in Saint John, but his primary interest was his dairy farm (Jersey Cows) in Rothesay. Much of his farmland has since been acquired by Rothesay Netherwood School and several smaller lots by private owners.
Mr. Fairweather married Christine Emily Robinson in 1911. They had four children: Margaret, Arthur, and twins Jack and Martha. Jack died in infancy and Martha when she was 12. Arthur died in 1982.
Mr. Fairweather served with the Canadian Forces in South Africa in 1901. He was a devout Anglican and an environmentalist and conservationist long before these terms became popular. His nephews used to delight at being summoned to “frolics” at Firshade where Mr. Fairweather had them “walk” the book to remove branches and other impediments to its natural flow. Mr. Fairweather carried on in the insurance business started by his father under the firm name A.C. fair-weather & Sons Ltd. With premises at 42 Princess Street in Saint John, but his primary interest was his dairy farm (Jersey Cows) in Rothesay. Much of his farmland has since been acquired by Rothesay Netherwood School and several smaller lots by private owners.
Mr. Fairweather married Christine Emily Robinson in 1911. They had four children: Margaret, Arthur, and twins Jack and Martha. Jack died in infancy and Martha when she was 12. Arthur died in 1982.
Robert Gordon Lee Fairweather (1923-) was born in Rothesay and educated at Rothesay Consolidated and Rothesay Collegiate Schools. After service in the RCNVR from 1941 to 1945, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at UNB in 1949. He first practiced law in Saint John in a two-person partnership and later joined the firm McKelvey, Macaulay, and Fairweather. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1952 and reelected in 1956 and 1960. He served as Attorney General of the province from 1958 until the defeat of the Flemming government in 1960.
Mr. Fairweather was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Royal (later Fundy Royal) in 1962 and re-elected five times. He was appointed first Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1977 and served as the founding chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board from 1989-1992. he was an official observer of elections in Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Malaysia and headed the Canadian delegation at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on three occasions.
Mr. Fairweather has received honorary doctoral degrees from several universities, the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service in 1990, the 1997 Tarnopolsky Award for fostering human rights, the 1999 Canadian Red Cross (New Brunswick Branch) Humanitarian of the Year Award, and the 2002 Province of New Brunswick Humanitarian Award. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Mr. Fairweather married Nancy Broughall in 1946. They have two sons, Michael and Hugh, and a daughter, Wendy.
Mr. Fairweather was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Royal (later Fundy Royal) in 1962 and re-elected five times. He was appointed first Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1977 and served as the founding chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board from 1989-1992. he was an official observer of elections in Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Malaysia and headed the Canadian delegation at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on three occasions.
Mr. Fairweather has received honorary doctoral degrees from several universities, the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service in 1990, the 1997 Tarnopolsky Award for fostering human rights, the 1999 Canadian Red Cross (New Brunswick Branch) Humanitarian of the Year Award, and the 2002 Province of New Brunswick Humanitarian Award. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Mr. Fairweather married Nancy Broughall in 1946. They have two sons, Michael and Hugh, and a daughter, Wendy.