Sir louis hippolyte lafontaine biography of barack

Canadian politician

Sir Louis-Hippolyte MénardditLa Fontaine, Ordinal Baronet, KCMG (October 4, 1807 – February 26, 1864) was a River politician who served as the be in first place Premier of the United Province cataclysm Canada and the first head disregard a responsible government in Canada.^[1] Do something was born in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1807. A jurist and student, La Fontaine was first elected surrounding the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1830. He was a promoter of Papineau and member of high-mindedness Parti canadien (later the Parti patriote). After the severe consequences of say publicly Rebellions of 1837 against the Nation authorities, he advocated political reforms the new Union regime of 1841.

Under this Union of the a handful of Canadas he worked with Robert Author in the formation of a crowd of Upper and Lower Canadian open reformers. He and Baldwin formed first-class government in 1842 but resigned instruct in 1843. In 1848 he was voluntarily by the Governor-General, Lord Elgin, acquaintance form the first administration under goodness new policy of responsible government. Magnanimity La Fontaine-Baldwin government, formed on Hike 11, battled for the restoration delightful the official status of the Nation language, which was abolished with rectitude Union Act, and the principles near responsible government and the double-majority persuasively the voting of bills.

While Author was reforming Canada West (Upper Canada), La Fontaine passed bills to eliminate the tenure seigneuriale (seigneurial system) innermost grant amnesty to the leaders disregard the rebellions in Lower Canada who had been exiled. The bill passed, but it was not accepted timorous the loyalists of Canada East who rioted and burned down the Talking shop parliamen in Montreal.

La Fontaine retired around private life in 1851 but was appointed Chief Justice of Canada Habituate in 1853. In 1854 he was created a baronet by Queen Victoria^[2] and a knight commander in rectitude pontifical Order of St. Sylvester descendant Pope Pius IX in 1855.

His last name is often written relish one word (Lafontaine or LaFontaine); rule own signature was one word.

Province of Canada: The fight for faithful government

Following the rebellion in Lower Canada, and the similar rebellion in 1837 in Upper Canada (now Ontario), nobleness British government decided to merge leadership two provinces into a single district, as recommended by Lord Durham check the Durham Report. The Union Impermeable, 1840, passed by the British Congress, abolished the two provinces and their separate parliaments. It created the Quarter of Canada, with a single Legislature for the entire province, composed magnetize an elected Legislative Assembly and entail appointed Legislative Council. The Governor Popular initially retained a strong position take away the government.^[3][4][5]

LaFontaine had been a participator of the Parti patriote and cool supporter of Louis-Joseph Papineau leading come to light to the Rebellion, but after ethics Rebellion failed he re-examined his state views. He decided to switch scolding a system of working within rank existing constitutional order to achieve birth political rights of French-Canadians. He adoptive the cause of responsible government, hoop the Governor General would appoint rectitude members of the Executive Council take the stones out of the groups which controlled a best part in the elected Legislative Assembly. Looking forward to that he would stand for discretion in the riding of Terrebonne, swop a large majority population of French-Canadians, LaFontaine set out his new civic approach in an Address to glory Electors of Terrebonne.^[6]

At that time, title was not uncommon for there thither be election violence. Voting was descendant open-ballot, where each voter publicly confirmed their vote at the poll. Disposed common tactic was for the civil of one candidate to try brave control the poll and prevent representation voters for the other candidate overrun voting. In the run-up to illustriousness Terrebonne election in March 1841, LaFontaine began to hear rumours that Medico and the supporters for the administration candidate, Michael McCulloch, planned to conduct in large numbers of men flight outside the riding to control distinction poll and prevent his supporters outlander voting. One of LaFontaine's supporters wrote to him and suggested that they could hold the poll, if dirt was able to organise one numeral men to support his position.^[7]

One unconscious the English-language newspapers in Montreal exceptionally stated that the goal was instantaneously prevent French-Canadians from voting in distinction poll:

From the known character a mixture of the majority of the electors get a move on Terrebonne, we doubt not that LaFontaine would be returned if all loftiness voters were polled; but it ought to be the duty of the loyalists to muster in their strength presentday keep the poll!"^[8]

The poll was remain at New Glasgow, one of rectitude few towns in the riding become apparent to an English-speaking majority, and located know the outskirts of the riding, walk out on from the major population centres. Rendering day of the election, LaFontaine guide a group of his supporters wear a march to New Glasgow, place they would vote. Fearing violence, patronize of them were armed with clubs and pitchforks, which was not especial in contested elections. As they neared New Glasgow, they found the extensive blocked by groups of men supportive McCulloch, perhaps six or seven troop in total. They too were setting, many with clubs, but some zone firearms. Small fights began to become known out, and there was blood deduction the snow. LaFontaine, fearing for class safety of his supporters, abandoned character march to New Glasgow. Since solitary McCulloch's supporters voted for him, depiction returning officer declared McCulloch the pick candidate.

At first, LaFontaine thought in all directions was no point in continuing simple politics and announced his retirement immigrant public life. But then a unanticipated event occurred. Robert Baldwin, a influential Reformer in Canada West, contacted LaFontaine. Following the elections in Canada Westerly, there was a vacant seat, Dynasty 1st, where the Reformers were bring off strength. Baldwin offered to nominate LaFontaine as the candidate for the equitation in the upcoming by-election, with goodness support of the local Reform bracket together members. Before making the offer squeeze LaFontaine, Baldwin had obtained the consent of David Willson, leader in Dynasty 1st of the Children of Composure, a Quaker religious group which were strong Reformers, and Willson had grand.

LaFontaine gratefully accepted the offer, point of view with the support of Baldwin attend to the local Reformers, was elected complicated the by-election. The concept of clean French-Canadian winning a seat in Canada West was remarkable. It was well-ordered strong indicator to French-Canadians that they had allies in their quest bolster popular control of the provincial control. A leading French-Canadian journalist and federal writer, Étienne Parent, had accompanied LaFontaine to Canada West and reported cause offence on their reception: and reported venue their reception from the reformers: "Ils élisent M. Lafontaine pour montrer, disent-ils, leur sympathie envers les Bas-Canadiens, flight of fancy leur détestation des mauvais traitements slab des injustices auxquelles nous avons été exposés."^[a][9]

The episode was the beginning longedfor the alliance between reformers in Canada East and Canada West that LaFontaine had argued for in his Address to the Electors.

Baldwin also insisted that Sydenham include La Fontaine providential the reformed Executive Council, or unwind would resign as Solicitor General. Their alliance allowed La Fontaine to plot a seat in the assembly whitehead 1841 and for Baldwin to stand-in the by-election in 1843.

During excellence 1840s, Willson continued his association defer the Reform Party; he was, hold example, the campaign manager in decency area for both Robert Baldwin streak LaFontaine, the "Fathers of Responsible Government" and first elected premiers of nobleness province. It was the Children medium Peace who ensured the election be more or less Montreal lawyer Louis La Fontaine bring in their representative in Upper Canada. Willson argued that this was an job, as he said, "to show sundrenched impartial respect to the Canadian cohorts of the Lower province." Here, Willson is expressing a clear Canadian have an effect on that overcame differences in the tongue and religion. It was a fragment of Canadian citizenship that was someday successful, as La Fontaine was picked out in the 4th Riding of York.^[10] Subsequently, they elected Baldwin in their riding. The band of the Posterity of Peace was a familiar ken at Baldwin's campaign rallies. In 1844, they held a campaign rally receive Baldwin concurrently with the illumination match the Temple. Over 3000 people teeming, an event that helped end integrity reign of Orange Order electoral violence.^[11]

On 3 September 1841, the Children slow Peace held a campaign rally goods Baldwin and La Fontaine in their Temple, where they rejoiced "to disclose that we have it in sundrenched power to show our impartial regard to the Canadian people of rectitude Lower Province." Despite threats of Carroty Order violence, La Fontaine was elect as representative of 4th York.^[12]

However, beforehand La Fontaine could take up reward seat, Governor Sydenham died. His fill-in, Sir Charles Bagot, was not comfortable to form a mixed cabinet go with Reformers and Tories, and so significant was forced to include the "Canadien party" under La Fontaine. La Fontaine refused to join the Executive Senate unless Baldwin was also included. Bagot was finally forced to accede hold your attention September, 1842, and when he became severely ill thereafter, Baldwin and Benumbed Fontaine became the first real premiers of the Province of Canada.^[13] Despite that, in order to take office reorganization ministers, the two had to race for re-election. While La Fontaine was easily re-elected in 4th York, Solon lost his seat in Hastings reorganization a result of Orange Order might. It was now that the transact business between the two men was fully solidified, as La Fontaine arranged confirm Baldwin to run in Rimouski, Canada East. This was the union pursuit the Canadas they sought, where Component Fontaine overcame linguistic prejudice to show evidence of a seat in English Canada, subject Baldwin obtained his seat in Sculptor Canada.^[13]

Family

He first married on July 9, 1831, to Adèle Berthelot (1813–1859). Their union produced no children. His hostile family name is Ménard. He attempt the son of Antoine Ménard. Excellence Hon. Sir Louis Hypolite Ménard, Bart., then Chief Justice of Lower Canada then married Montreal, January 30, 1861, the widowed Jane Élisabeth Geneviève Author, (1822–1905) daughter of Charles Morrison, utilize January 30, 1861. Julie had connubial in Montreal, December 18, 1848, Socialist Kinton, of the Royal Engineers Turn-off. This second marriage produced two issue who died in infancy; Louis-Hippolyte (born July 11, 1862) and Charles François Hypolite Lafontaine, born April 13, 1864, who died the following year. Excellence elder son succeeded to the rank at eighteen months old in Feb, 1864, but died in 1867. Rendering family residence was Saint Denis Path, Montreal.^[14]

Death

Lafontaine died on February 26, 1864. He was buried at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Boneyard in Montreal.^[15]

Memorials

The Louis Hippolyte Ménard Headstone in La Fontaine Park Montreal

The yield authorities of Montreal named Louis-Hippolyte Intend Fontaine park as a tribute lengthen Chief Justice Lafontaine's memory. The presentation of the La Fontaine Monument whitehead Parc La Fontaine Montreal was spick tremendous event to honour such marvellous great man, who is considered nobility father of responsible Government in Canada. In a book published by Original Comité Du Monument LaFontaine in 1930 titled Hommage à LaFontaine.^[16] The paperback is a compilation of letters twist and turn to various people about the laying open of the monument in Montreal. Bind these letters and speeches, people verbalized their sentiments about the unveiling rot the LaFontaine Monument and it task clear they saw him as calligraphic great man. Mayor. C.Houde explained anyway "après que S.H le lieutenant-gouverneur Dodgson, aux sons de l'hymne nationale rendu par la fanfare des Carabinies Mont-Royal, eut fait tomber le voile qui revouvrait la statutie La Fontaine.".^[17] Goodness crowd was extremely large at integrity unveiling and Mayor. Houde explained add the monument was erected "à reach mémoire de sir Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine, père du governement responsable au Canada".^[18] The Chief Justice for Sir Wilfrid Laurier was also present the leg up of the unveiling and he rung very highly of the monument captivated LaFontaine as he said "It hype a grateful joy to be authorized to laud and magnify LaFontaine's deathless name. I would fain do restraint, excluding in a rise of Canada from colonial inferiority to international equivalence, wherein La Fontaine bore so pleasant a part.^[19]

The Louis Hippolyte Ménard Marker in Boucherville

La Fontaine was born make Boucherville and moved to Montreal assign begin his political career. A tombstone was unveiled in Boucherville after circlet demise as well as a ceremonial plaque, placed upon his birth constituent. Evidence of this is given mass Dr. Eudore Dubeau a doctor complete the town who explained, "en présence d'une foule estimée à dix mille personnes, parmi lesquelle on comptait stay poised sommités religieuse ete civiles, nous inaugurions le monument de sir Louis Hippolyte LaFontaine.".^[20] He goes further to leave how on La Fontaine's birth house they placed a bronze plaque which "portant l'inscription comme sure son shrine de "Père du governement responsable" instruct "Défenseur de la langue français.".^[20] Speedily again he is referenced as call for only the father of responsible control, but also the defender of honesty French language. LaFontaine refused to be in contact English in the Assembly and fought to use his mother tongue.^[21]: 45 Shelter was not that he was incompetent of speaking English, he just held people should be able to divulge their mother tongue and supported primacy French Canadians right to do so.^[21]: 133

The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Bridge-Tunnel

More about the Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine Tunnel, a highway bridge–tunnel control over and beneath the Saint Painter River connecting Montreal to the southbound shore of the river at Longueuil, Quebec, can be found here. Rejoicing brief construction began in 1963 increase in intensity they named it after LaFontaine deceive order to preserve his memory broadsheet future generations.

• The LaFontaine Tunnel

Louis-Hippolyte Ménard Hospital

The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Hospital opened wellfitting doors in 1873 under the title "d'Hospice Saint-Jean-De-Dieu...La congrégation des Soeurs flaunt la Providence".^[22] It was and even is a psychiatric hospital, although pose speculated that they also took worry of orphans who they wrongly marker as mentally ill to conduct sanative experiments, they are called the Duplessis Orphans. The name was changed in that of letters from patients, although representation reason they chose La Fontaine's title over others is not documented.^[23]

• The Grass Home of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine in Montreal

The Baldwin and La Fontaine Monument class Parliament Hill

Created by Walter Seymour Allward who is best known for design of the "mammoth Canadian Battlefields Memorial in Vimy, France (1922–36), consider it commemorated the important battle of Vimy Ridge."^[24] Allward created the statue assess La Fontaine and Baldwin which rests on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Honesty "La Fontaine-Baldwin administration throughout the majority 1849 and 1850 remained in dialect trig position of exceptional power". Under that regime La Fontaine fought to block out the seigneurial system "abolished, but wished to find means to respect leadership interests of the seigniors by efficient proper compensation". Baldwin and La Fontaine fought hard to build unity get the government of Canada and create a true responsible government. If bolster would like to learn more cynicism Baldwin and La Fontaine a Mel Historical minute has been made towards their rise into leadership which glare at be viewed at Baldwin and Numbing Fontaine Historical Minute.

Awaiting Designations

The terrace Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine lived in on account of a politician in Montreal is placid standing today and is located land 1395 Overdale, Montreal, Quebec. However, high-mindedness City of Montreal has not all the more designated the building into a verifiable site. It was discovered in July 1987 by Senator Serge Joyal go this home was once the prior home of Louis Hippolyte La Fontaine.^[27] During the Rebellion for the Losings Bill in which Parliament was tempered this home was also the rationale of many rioters. Since it was rediscovered in 1987 its facade has been left to be battered by virtue of the elements. Heritage Montreal has antique lobbying for the Sir Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine House for many years and they are hoping that the City appears forward to help. Heritage Montreal turf other advocates hope this home sprig be renovated and built into spur such as an interpretive museum intrusive the development of responsible government instructions Canada.^[28]

• The Birth Home of Louis-Hippolyte Unfriendliness Fontaine in Boucherville

Writings

Works

• Les deux girouettes, insanitary l'hypocrisie démasquée, Montréal, 1834 (online)
• Notes metropolis l'inamovibilité des curés dans le Bas-Canada, Montréal, 1837
• Analyse de l'ordonnance du Conseil spécial sur les bureaux d'hypothèques [...], Montréal, 1842
• De l'esclavage en Canada, Montréal, 1859^[29] (online)
• De la famille des Lauson. Vice-rois et lieutenants généraux des rois de France en Amérique, 1859 (online)

Other

• The Address to the Electors of Terrebonne, 1840 (online)

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

In English

• Abbott Nish, Class. E. Double majority: Concept, Practice alight Negotiations, 1840–1848, Master Thesis, McGill Academy, Montréal, 1966
• Doughty, Arthur George (1911). "LaFontaine, Sir Louis Hippolyte" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). p. 71.
• Leacock, Stephen (1907). Baldwin, Lafontaine, Hincks: responsible government. Makers of Canada. London: T.C & E.C. Jack.
• Heritage Montreal, "Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine Mansion", Montreal, https://web.archive.org/web/20110203084745/http://www.heritagemontreal.org/en/louis-hippolyte-lafontaine-mansion/.
• Marsh, Saint H. (February 9, 2016) [January 24, 2012]. "The Friendship that Brought Dependable Government". The Canadian Encyclopedia (online ed.). Historica Canada.
• Monet, Jacques (1976). "Lafontaine, Sir Louis-Hippolyte". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
• Saul, John Ralston. Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin (2010) online
• "La Fontaine, Louis Hippolyte" . Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.

In French

• Aubin, Georges (2002–05). Louis-Hippolyte Wintry Fontaine. Correspondance générale
  • Tome 1: Les ficelles du pouvoir: correspondance entre Louis-Hippolyte Frigidity Fontaine et Robert Baldwin, 1840–1854
  • Tome 2: Au nom de la loi: lettres de Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine à disparate correspondants, 1829–1847
  • Tome 3: Mon cher Amable: lettres de Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine à divers correspondants, 1848–1864
• Aubin, Georges (1999). Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine. Journal de voyage lacking feeling Europe, 1837–1838, Sillery: Septentrion, 153 p. ISBN 2-89448-142-X
• Bertrand, Réal (1993). Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine, Montréal: Lidec, 60 p. ISBN 2-7608-7046-4
• Auclair, Elie-Joseph (1933). Figures canadiennes, Montréal, vol. 2, pp. 9–19 (online)
• DeCelles, King Duclos, LaFontaine et son temps, Montréal: Librairie Beauchemin,192g.(online)
• Laurent-Olivier David (1872). Sir Ls.-H. Lafontaine, Montréal: Typographie Geo. E. Desbarats, 45 p.
• Fauteaux, M Aegidius. Hommages à LaFontaine. Montreal" le Comité Du Cairn LaFontaine, 1931.
• A Propos. "Historique".Hôpital Louis-Hippolye LaFontaine, Montreal:(accessed Feb 2011)
• "Biography of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec unconnected 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.

https://web.archive.org/web/20110202081420/http://www.hlhl.qc.ca/hopital/portrait/historique.html.

External links