Episode 416: Matthew Baillie Begbie (1819–1894) served as the first judge of mainland British Columbia during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, arriving in 1858 as the colony struggled to impose order across a fast-growing and often violent region. Known to many as the “Hanging Judge,” Begbie presided over cases from Yale to Barkerville, travelling long distances to hold court in mining towns and settlements. His legacy remains contested: some describe him as a firm and capable judge working within the limits of colonial law, while others point to cases like the 1864 trials and executions of six Tsilhqot’in men following the Chilcotin War as evidence of a system that failed Indigenous people. Here, we examine Begbie’s life, his rulings, and the lasting impact of his role in shaping justice in British Columbia.

Sources:

Heritage - Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Prime Minister delivers a statement of exoneration for six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs
Chilcotin Hangings of 1864: Canada’s Colonial Injustice
B.C. redresses wrongful hangings of Tsilhqot'in war chiefs
Essays in the History of Canadian Law, Volume VI: British Columbia and the Yukon - Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History
BEGBIE, Sir MATTHEW BAILLIE – Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Parks Canada - Begbie, Sir Matthew Baillie National Historic Person
Judge Begbie Hangs Chiefs - British Columbia - An Untold History
Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie | Grave
Memoirs and Documents Relating to Judge Begbie
https://www.lillooet.ca/sir-matthew-baillie-begbie
Justin Trudeau exonerates Tsilhqot’in chiefs hanged in 1864 ‘Chilcotin War’

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