HISTORY

---

Ellis H. Cleaver, K.C. was born shortly after Canada’s Confederation, in 1868, to James Cleaver and his second wife, Jane Watson. In 1890, upon completing his legal studies in Toronto, he opened a law practice in Burlington, Ontario - Burlington's first law firm. He then served as Reeve of the Village of Burlington in 1898. Later, Ellis' son, E. Hughes Cleaver, Q.C., who went simply by his second name, Hughes, joined his father's law firm, and it became known as Cleaver and Cleaver. 

As Peter K. McWilliams, Q.C. wrote in his book, Rambling Tales of a Country Lawyer, Hughes Cleaver 

"[...] was the most remarkable lawyer in Halton in his generation." But Hughes was much more than just a remarkable lawyer; in 1918, he was elected Reeve of the Town of Burlington, as it then was, but resigned shortly thereafter to enlist in the First World War as private in a tank battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Upon his return from Europe, Hughes served as Mayor of Burlington in 1920. He was a subdivider who laid out the beautiful neighbourhoods of Roseland and Shoreacres, owned and operated a number of country inns (including partnering with English Inns Ltd. in the building of the Pig & Whistle Inn on 5527 Lakeshore Road), and founded and operated Bluebird Bus Lines, along with many other business ventures.

Hughes was elected as the Member of Parliament for Halton in 1935 and served for three successive terms in 1940, 1945 and 1949, until his retirement from the House in 1953. Following his successful political career, Hughes returned to the practice of law until the ripe old age of eighty-six.

Today, through many iterations in between, the practice continues as Cleaver & Company LLP.