DEATH OF A PROMINENT IRISHMAN IN CANADA
INTERESTING SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Dr. Richard Thomas Walkem, K.C.., D.C.L. of Kingston,
Ontario, died on the 23rd ult at his residence, Queenscote,
at the age of 64 years. As deceased was a grandson of the
late Mr. George Boomer, of Lisburn, and a Cousin to Mr.
Niven, of Hove, Sussex, and formerly of Chrome Hill, Lambeg,
the following excerpts from the account of his life,
published in the British Daily Wig [Whig?], will interest many of
our readers:-
"Dr. Walkem suffered from pernicious anaemia. Last Spring he
took a trip to Australia for the benefit of his health, but
returned unimproved. Two Weeks ago today he left his well
known office on Clarence Street, for his home, to return to
his law books no more. Thus the chancellor of the diocese of
Ontario follows the dean to his long rest before the remains
of the latter are borne to the grave.
"Richard Thomas Walkem was born at Waterford, Ireland, on
Septmember 30th,1840. He was Son of Charles Walkem, late
royal surveyor, attached to the royal engineers, of
the militia department, Ottawa, by his wife Mary Anne,
daughter of George Broomer [Boomer?], and sister of the very
Rev. Dean Boomer, of the diocese of Huron. Richard T. Walkem
was the fourth child of a family of seven sons and three
daughters, the eldest of the former being at present the
Hon. [Honourable?] Mr. Justice Walkem, of the supreme court,
British Columbia and for many years premier and attorney
general of that province. He was educated at Phillips
Montreal Academy, and at the high school and McGill College,
Montreal, where he took first rank honors in classics and
mathematics, and several prizes. He left Montreal in 1860 to
study law in Toronto. He was admitted to the bar in november,
1865, entered into partnership countinued [continued?] to the
present. He was created a Queen's counsel in 1880, and
subsequently became professor of equity in Queen's
University. Dr. Walkem was the author of work on wills,
published in 1873, and for many years used as a text book for
students of the law society. He published another work 1874
on the law relating to the property of married women. In
1891, he received the honorary degree of B.C.L. [Bachelor
of Civil Law?] from Trinity University, Toronto.
"Dr. Walkem was a prominent member of the anglican
church, and for some years, and until his death, occupied the
position of chancellor of Ontario diocese. He was a member of
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the synod for the past thirty years, and for many years was a
member of the provincial synod. To St. George's Cathedral he
was warmly attached, and was one of the re-building committee
who assisted Dean Smith so faithfully in the restoration of
the edifice.
He was a member of ancient St. John's lodge, A.F. and
A.M. in the masonic order he reached the highest position. He
was grand master of the order from 1888 to 1890, and a V.P. [Vice
President?] of the Ontario brandh of the St. John Ambulance
Association.
He was President of the Kingston Art school for years,
President of the old gas company, and the Light Heat and
Power company; a past president of the Kingston skating rink,
the Fronteac bar association and chairman for the board of
health for some years. He was actively connected with the
Queen's bowling club and Kingston Curling club being past
president of each. He was also interested in the Historical
Association, of which he was a recent president. In politics
he was a Conservative. In the arbitration between the city and
the Light, Heat, and Power company, he was chief counsel for
the latter. During the years 1877 and 1878 he sat as an
alderman on the city council for Victoria Ward. The flags on
the city buildings are at half mast in his memory.
