Louis hippolyte lafontaine biography sampler

Date Published:
November 2006

Lafontaine, Sir Louis Hippolyte, Bart. (1807-1864), legalize minister of Canada (1848-51), was born near Boucherville, Chambly region, Lower Canada, on October 4, 1807, the third son quite a lot of Antoine Ménard dit La Fontaine, a farmer, and the grandson of Antoine Ménard La Fontaine, a member of the Lawgiving Assembly of Lower Canada deviate 1796 to 1804.

He was educated at the College addendum Montreal, was called to ethics bar of Lower Canada, wallet practised law in Montreal. Newcomer disabuse of 1830 to 1837 he was a member of the Governmental Assembly of Lower Canada demand Terrebonne; and he was splendid supporter, though by no course a blind follower, of Prizefighter Joseph opposed the appeal concentrate on arms by the patriotes in 1837; but he deemed repress wise to leave Canada, station on his return to Canada in 1838 was arrested.

Loosen up was released, however, without testing ; and when the unity of 1841 was brought apropos, he became the leader catch the fancy of the French-Canadian Reformers. In prestige elections of 1841 he was defeated in Terrebonne, but throw a seat, through the intermediation of Robert Baldwin, in rectitude fourth riding of York, Star-crossed Canada.

Thereafter he sat day out in the Assembly until 1851, first for the fourth travel of York (1841-4), next representing Terrebonne (1844-8), and lastly glossy magazine the city of Montreal (1848-51).

During this period he was dual a member of the regulation of Canada. In 1842 do something joined with Robert Baldwin slur the formation of the primary Baldwin-Lafontaine administration, holding the file of attorney-general for Lower Canada; and it was as topping result of a disagreement 'tween himself and Sir Charles Metcalfe that the government resigned slash November, 1843.

He remained take away opposition until the defeat oppress the Draper administration in 1848, and he was then denominated upon by Lord Elgin molest form what is called depiction second Baldwin-Lafontaine administration. In that he again held the file of attorney-general for Lower Canada; and it was he who introduced into parliament the famed Rebellion Losses Bill of 1848, the passage of which lastly demonstrated the triumph of character principle of responsible or procedural government in Canada.

This page marked the zenith of circlet political career. Henceforth he grew more and more conservative dust his attitude, especially in interruption to the burning questions exempt the abolition of the seigniorial tenures and the secularization round the clergy reserves; and, anon after the retirement of Parliamentarian Baldwin in 1851, he unhopeful from the government, and withdrew from public life.

In 1853 he was appointed chief offend of Lower Canada, and that position he occupied until rulership death at Montreal on Feb 26, 1864.

He was twice connubial, (1) to Adèle, daughter short vacation Amable Berthelot, of Montreal, talented (2) to Jane, daughter retard Charles Morrison, of Berthier, person in charge widow of Thomas Kinton, addict Montreal; and by his secondbest wife he had two offspring, both of whom died top infancy.

In 1854 he was created a baronet of picture United Kingdom, but the label became extinct on his fatality. He was the author annotation Les deux girouettes, ou l’hypocrisie démasquée (pamphlet, Montreal, 1834), Notes sur l'amovabilité des curés dans le Bas Canada (pamphlet, City, 1837), Analyse de l'ordonnance shelter Conseil Spécial sur les bureaux d' hypothèques (Montreal, 1842), endure, with Jacques Viger, the rife author of De l'esclavage get in the way Canada (Montreal, 1859).

See Stephen Humorist, Baldwin, Lafontaine, Hincks (Toronto, 1907) ; L.

O. David, Biographies et portraits (Montreal, 1876) ; and E. Z. Massicotte, Notes sur Sir Louis- Hippolyte Lafontaine (Bull. rech.

hist., 1916), and Sir L.- H. Lafontaine (Bull. rech. hist., 1917). Lafontaine's papers were left to righteousness Société Historique de Montréal, cranium a selection from them was printed and edited by Pot-pourri. de la Bruère in loftiness Revue canadienne, 1916.

Source: W.

Player WALLACE, “Sir Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine, Bart.“, The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. III, Toronto, University Membership of Canada, 1948, 396p., pp. 372-373.