[Ed Note: The following information was compiled by Eric Hovius of the University of Saskatchewan and is all true. So here's a littel history for you. As the editor I added some blurbs which are not true. You will be able to pick those out. The Weakly thanks our staff historian Eric for his fine work]

It was on a long drive to Saskatoon from Hamilton that I began pondering a question that plagued my mind endlessly.  Normally on a long, epic trip, unanswerable questions are welcome.  But, without using the internet, I had no way of verifying my question: who is the best Attorney General to ever serve the people of Canada?

“Trudeau, St Laurent, Chrétien, Turner,” clamor the Liberals.  “Kimmie “the Gibbler” Campbell,” yell the Conservatives. Yet who is factually and objectively correct?

What would you say if I told you that Canada’s Attorney Generals had a military hero amongst their ranks?  What if that same person would later serve as Chief Justice in the highest court in the land?  Did any of the aforementioned Attorneys General personally prosecute criminals? Did any push for treasonous men to hang? Did the modern day historical relics ever have an honour so distinguished, that they were in the company of Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney? Did any relentlessly attempt to prop up the class system by subverting the justice system (other than Trudeau and Nicolson)?   I didn’t think so.

Herein lies the tale of just such a Canadian Hero: Sir John Beverly Robinson was born into a staunch loyalist family in 1791. He began his articles studying directly under Upper Canada’s Attorney General, where he would recieve an invaluable education. If one does the math, Sir Robinson turned 21 in the year 1812. A portentious time indeed.

Back in 1812 the AG’s role was a lot more hands on.  Robinson’s principal, John Macdonnel, not only personally oversaw the prosecution of criminals, but when war broke out, he and his articling student took up arms and joined General Isaac Brock to personally repel the American forces in an effort to save their jobs. To many, personally engaging in warfare to protect one’s position as AG would be enough to suffice as the best Attorney General in Canada’s history.  Unfortunately Macdonnel outstanding courage was matched only by his inexperience in combat. He was killed in the Battle of Queenston Heights along with General Brock. 

This tragedy became an opportunity for young Sir Robinson. At the age of 21, still attempting to complete his articles, he became the colony’s Attorney General. To the best of my knowledge, and research ability, he was the youngest AG our history. And the second most inexperienced, right after Vic Toews.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, Sir Robinson’s letters offering legal advice the Colony’s denizens has been preserved.  Sir Robinson would dispense advice to generals, bureaucrats, and members of the legislature.  Who I'm sure loved to hear what a 21 year old gentlemen has to tell them about doing their jobs. These paint a rather telling picture of the man he truly was (http://library.lsuc.on.ca/GL/Robinson%20Papers/Letters.htm). 

The first letter on record is one in which the AG writes Major General Sheaffe about his desire to fulfill his military duty.  Robinson asserts: “I seek no exemption but, to be useful, …my exclusive attention is required here in York ” He states that he is not needed, because there are already “two Excellent Officers” available.  By getting out of military service at a young and vibrant age, Sir Robinson avoided his predecessor’s mistake of dying just to preserve his job. Which is where greatness comes from. Dedicating yourself to your work.

He was once asked if those living in the occupied Territory of Michigan were compelled to service under the Militia Laws.  He replied that, although Fort Detroit was surrendered, it was still not regarded as Canada’s possession “except by exertion of power as their conquerors.” Surely, a “Yes” or “No” answer would have done the trick. Instead his gives a firm  “No,” coupled with evidence disproving the basis of his answer supporting the alternative.  Pure genius.  He must have known what downtown Detroit would have become in later years. 

When a boat full of salt from the American side drifted onto the shores of Canada, the Colony needed a legal answer quickly.  The 21 year old AG advised, in a brief of law, that the contents were now property of Canada.  As he gained experience in dealing with the spoils of war, Sir Robinson learned that there was no need to waste inking his quill writing out legal justifications.  The next time someone wished to benefit from the spoils of war he simply states: “the tea seized… has been condemned…make the most of it”.  Rumour has it, a grunt and a nod would be all you could get from the man by 1814. 

The young AG learned quickly that the most important of aspect of war is it's spoils. (he would also learnt hat the most important aspect of milk was that it spoils, but that's another story). Those who abandoned their farms in the battle zone caught Sir Robinson’s attention because their crops would be wasted if not harvested.  The AG personally took this issue upon himself, to find someone else to harvest the corps so that the government would profit.  At the time ‘government’ was defined as the AG and his small group of friends.  By allowing abandoned property to be lawfully seized, the AG set himself up for a longtime relationship with Upper Canada’s establishment, and later become one of the most conservative members of the Family Compact.  This alone would make him a national hero.

My favorite piece of advice was given to his friend, a French citizen and wealthy merchant, how wanted access to the best seat in town.  The AG was prosecuting a treason case involving 19 men in my hometown of Ancaster Ontario, and the friend in question wished to sit on the jury. Even though he was a foreign national, and as such, not a ‘peer’ eligible for jury service. Robinson advised his friend that there was no basis for the objection: “I recommend to you, not officially, but as a friend, to prevent that necessity by withdrawing from the Jury”.  Gutsy call AG, gutsy call. Of course the AG being close friends with one of the jurors would never subvert the interest of justice. But don't tell him that directly. Very brave.

In the end, our hero recommended that seven of them hang; his advice was accepted.  Sorry, I’m misleading the reading, this is inaccurate.  He didn’t just recommend them to hang he said, "[the prisoners shall be] hanged by the neck, but not until they be dead, to be cut down alive, and their entrails to be taken out and burnt before their faces, and their heads cut off and their bodies divided into four quarters and their heads and quarters disposed of at the King's pleasure…"  And so it was done.  As a kid I used to think that smell was Hamilton.  I now know better.  Thank you Sir Robinson for this amazing legacy!

Sir Robinson was forced out of the job when the government hired a more senior person who possessed legal credentials.  Later in his career, Sir Robinson would go on to make a career of actively suppressing democratic rights in an attempt to entrench a hierarchial class structure within Canadian society.  Surely, that alone would make him a great man. Yet, it is his credentials before the age of twenty four that place him second to none.  Sir John Beverly Robinson, best Attorney General in Canada’s history, a personal hero, and a national treasure.