William Melville Martin

Martin, William Melville

William Melville Martin, lawyer, premier of Saskatchewan (b at Norwich, Ont 23 Aug 1876; d at Regina 22 June 1970). He was the second premier of Saskatchewan 1916-22, serving with considerable skill during a difficult transition period. Educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall, Martin moved to Regina in 1903 to practise law. Elected to the House of Commons for Regina in 1908 and re-elected in 1911, he resigned from Parliament in 1916 and led the provincial Liberals. He was elected to the legislature in a by-election in 1916 and was re-elected in the general elections of 1917 and 1921. On his voluntary retirement from politics in 1922 he was appointed a judge of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. He became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan in 1941 and held that post with distinction until 1961.