Abraham Beverley Walker facts for kids

Abraham Beverley Walker (born August 23, 1851 – died April 21, 1909) was an important lawyer and journalist from New Brunswick, Canada. He made history as the first black lawyer in New Brunswick. He was also the second black lawyer in all of Canada. Plus, he was the very first black lawyer born in Canada.

Abraham Walker's Early Life and School

Abraham Walker grew up on a farm. His family had a special history. They were part of the first black families to settle in the Kingston area of New Brunswick. This happened way back in 1786. They were called Loyalists. This means they were loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.

Walker grew up in a large family. He lived in a quiet, country community called Kars. He went to a small, one-room schoolhouse there. He also learned a special skill called shorthand. This is a fast way to write using symbols. He learned it from a preacher in Kingston.

Later, Walker decided to study law. He went to law school in Washington, D.C., in the United States. He also took law classes at the Saint John Law School in New Brunswick.

Abraham Walker's Career and Achievements

In 1882, Abraham Walker officially became a lawyer. This is called being "called to the bar." He then opened his own law office in Saint John. He faced many challenges in his career. He also experienced unfair treatment because of his race. Despite this, he was accepted as a solicitor. This meant he could work in the Supreme Court of New Brunswick. In 1892, when the Saint John Law School opened, he was the first non-white student.

Walker was promised a special title many times. It was called Queen's and King's Counsel. This title is given to experienced lawyers. However, he never received it. This was because of unfair objections based on race.

Even with these difficulties, Walker became a leader. He was a strong voice for his community in the Maritimes. He worked hard for civil rights. Civil rights are the basic rights and freedoms that all people should have. He gave talks across North America to support this important cause.

From 1903 to 1904, Walker published a magazine. It was called Neith. This magazine focused on important topics. These included race issues, history, philosophy, literature, and art. This made him the first black publisher in New Brunswick.

In 2019, Abraham Walker received a special honor. He was given the Order of New Brunswick. This award recognized his amazing achievements. It also honored his dedication to civil rights. He fought for fairness in New Brunswick and across North America.