Peter Livius facts for kids

Peter Livius, Chief Justice of Quebec

Peter Livius (born July 12, 1739 – died July 23, 1795) was a lawyer born in Portugal. He became a very important judge, known as the Chief Justice of Quebec.

Early Life and Career

Peter Livius was born in Lisbon, Portugal. His father was from Germany, and his mother was English. He went to school in England.

In 1763, he moved to a place called the Province of New Hampshire. This area is now part of the United States. His wife's family owned land there.

In 1764, Peter Livius gave many books to Harvard University. Because of this gift, he received an honorary master's degree. This is a special degree given to someone for their achievements.

Becoming a Judge

In 1765, he joined the New Hampshire council. This was a group of people who helped govern the area.

In 1768, he was chosen to be a judge. He worked in the Court of Common Pleas. This court handled everyday legal cases.

However, in 1772, he was removed from his judge position. He went back to England to try and get his job back, but he was not successful.

Life in England and Quebec

Peter Livius decided to stay in England. He wanted to improve his skills and reputation.

In 1773, he gave some elk horns to the Royal Society. This is a famous group that promotes science. Because of his gift, he became a Fellow.

He then started studying law at the Middle Temple. This is one of the places where lawyers are trained in England. In 1775, he became a qualified lawyer. He also received another honorary degree from Oxford University.

Moving to Quebec

After his studies, Peter Livius got a new job. He became a judge in Montreal. He was a judge for the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Vice-Admiralty. The Vice-Admiralty court dealt with cases related to the sea and ships.

He arrived in Quebec just before the American siege in 1775. A siege is when an army surrounds a city to try and take it over. Livius helped defend the town.

In August 1776, he was rewarded for his help. He was given the important job of Chief Justice of Quebec. This made him the top judge in the area. He also became a member of the Council, which helped govern Quebec.

Challenges and Later Life

Peter Livius had some disagreements with the Governor, Guy Carleton. Because of these disagreements, the Governor removed Livius from his job in 1778.

Once again, Livius went to London to explain his side of the story. This time, he was successful. However, he could not return to Quebec in 1780 because of bad weather for sailing.

He was officially removed from his Chief Justice position in 1786. He never tried to go back to Quebec after that. He lived the rest of his life on a pension, which is like a regular payment.

Peter Livius passed away in 1795. He was on a trip to Brighton, England, when he died. He was married to Anna Elizabeth.