Thursday May 24, 2012

Our Speaker for tonight will be

Dr. David Warrick

Dr. David Warrick

 Dr. Warrick will be speaking on

"John A. Macdonald's First Trial in Picton"

 John A. Macdonald –
our future first Prime Minister –
was only 18 and still a law student
when he took over the law practice of his ailing cousin in Picton in 1833.   

Here he began his full time career in law, public administration
and politics that lasted until his death in 1891. 

Known for his keen mind and studious mature, John A. was also a bit of a prankster.  One of his mischievous tricks triggered a confrontation with a leading citizen of Picton, Dr. Thomas Moore. 

Come and learn about this little-known chapter in Macdonald's astonishing
career and the risks he ran even at an early age. 

Find out the nature of the prank, how Macdonald defended himself
on serious charges in his first courtroom trial ever in 1834,
what really happened to Macdonald and Moore, and how careers were affected.

Dr. Warrick was a Professor of Rhetoric, Composition, Business Communication and Humanities at Humber College for 29 years before his retirement in 2004.

He is currently Chair of The Macdonald Project (www.macdonaldproject.com).

This project has been undertaken to commemorate the most famous resident of
Prince Edward County by commissioning a life-sized bronze sculpture
of him to be erected in Picton. 

It will depict Macdonald at the young age of 19, arguing his first case
in the Picton Court House in 1834. 
Internationally acclaimed sculptor Ruth Abernethy
( www.ruthabernethy.com) has been selected as the artist.  

The sculpture will be completed by 2015 to celebrate the
200^th anniversary of Macdonald's birth.

David Warrick resides in both Etobicoke and Picton.

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