Joseph Bourret

Joseph Bourret

Joseph Bourret (born June 10, 1802 in Rivière-du-Loup , Lower Canada , † March 5, 1859 in Montreal ) was a Canadian politician and lawyer . He was mayor of Montreal twice, from 1842 to 1844 and from 1847 to 1848.

biography

Bourret received a classical education at the high school in Nicolet . After working for his uncle for three years, he was admitted to the bar in 1823. When his uncle died ten years later, he formed a partnership with Toussaint Pelletier. In 1834 he married his daughter Emélie, who died a little later. In 1839 he married Marie-Stéphanie Bédard, with whom he had nine children. Bourret was a moderate nationalist; In 1843 he was one of the co-founders of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal welfare organization , which also promoted French-Canadian culture. He himself presided over it in 1848 and 1849. He was also a co-founder of the savings bank of the city and the district of Montreal ( Banque d'Épargne de la Cité et du District de Montréal ) . It was one of the first French Canadian financial institutions and was supported by the Roman Catholic Church .

In 1840 the colonial government appointed Bourret to the Montreal city council. In the years 1842 to 1844 he officiated as mayor for the first time. Since Montreal was the capital of the province of Canada at the time , he made the Sainte-Anne market hall available to Parliament. He played a key role in the realization of the Marché Bonsecours , as well as in the planning of new aqueducts. After the death of John Eeston Mills in November 1847, he took over pro tempore for a little more than a year again the post of mayor. Bourret was also politically active at the national level. In 1848 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, the Upper House of the Province of Canada. From April 1850 to October 1851 he was a member of the government of Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine and Robert Baldwin , as Minister for Public Works. He remained a member of the Legislative Council until his death.

Web links

• Biography on the website of the city administration (French)
• Biography on the Québec National Assembly website (French)