John Campbell Allen

John Campbell Allen, born on October first, eighteen seventeen, was a prominent figure in the legal and political landscape of New Brunswick. Hailing from Kingsclear Parish, he was the grandson of Isaac Allen, a respected Supreme Court judge in the province. His legal education began in the office of John Simcoe Saunders, where he honed his skills and prepared for a distinguished career in law.

Allen's political journey commenced with his election to the New Brunswick House of Assembly, where he served from eighteen fifty-six to eighteen sixty-five. During this time, he held several key positions, including Solicitor General from eighteen fifty-six to eighteen fifty-seven, and Speaker of the House from eighteen sixty-three to eighteen sixty-five. In eighteen sixty-five, he was appointed Attorney General, further solidifying his influence in the province's governance.

In eighteen sixty-five, Allen ascended to the judiciary, becoming a justice of the colonial and later provincial Supreme Court of New Brunswick. His tenure as Chief Justice spanned from eighteen seventy-five to eighteen ninety-six, marking a significant period in the court's history. Notably, in eighteen seventy-three, he delivered the majority opinion in the landmark case of Dow v. Black, which addressed the federal-provincial division of powers. His ruling deemed a provincial statute on municipal taxation unconstitutional, although it was later overturned by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.