Jean-Charles Chapais

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Jean-Charles Chapais

Jean-Charles Chapais , PC (born December 2, 1811 in Rivière-Ouelle , Lower Canada , † July 17, 1885 in Ottawa ) was a Canadian politician . As one of the fathers of the Confederation , he was one of the pioneers of the Canadian state founded in 1867. From 1867 to 1873 he was a minister in the federal cabinet, from 1869 until his death he represented the province of Québec in the Senate .

biography

Chapais received a secondary education at the Nicolet Seminary . He then worked in Saint-Denis as a wholesaler, farmer and cattle breeder. He made a fortune through his various business activities. When Saint-Denis received parish status in 1845, Chapais became the first mayor. In February 1851 he ran in a by-election for a seat in the lower house of the province of Canada , but lost in the Kamouraska constituency to Luc Letellier de Saint-Just . But in November of the same year he was able to prevail against Letellier and move into parliament.

From 1864 Chapais held the office of commissioner for state building projects in the liberal-conservative coalition government. In this role he was responsible for the establishment of the Intercolonial Railway and the extension of the Grand Trunk Railway . In October 1864 he took part as a delegate at the Québec Conference , where the creation of a federal state was discussed. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the National Assembly of Québec . Although not represented in the federal parliament, Chapais was appointed Minister of Agriculture to the cabinet of Prime Minister John Macdonald in July 1867. In January 1868 he named him Canada . After a cabinet reshuffle, Chapais was treasurer from November 1869. In January 1873 he resigned from his ministerial post and remained a senator for another twelve years until his death.

His son Thomas Chapais was also a senator from 1919 to 1946.

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personal data
SURNAME Chapais, Jean-Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian politician
DATE OF BIRTH December 2, 1811
PLACE OF BIRTH Rivière-Ouelle , Lower Canada
DATE OF DEATH July 17, 1885
Place of death Ottawa