Premier of Québec. Born in Terrebonne, on September 26, 1840. He studied first in Terrebonne, then went to Montreal where he studied law and was admitted to the Bar on November 6, 1865. He was created Queen Counsel in law on January 20, 1882. He was elected conservative representative to the Québec Legislative Assembly for the district of Montréal-Est in the elections of 1875. He was reelected in 1878 and 1881. From March 8, 1882 to March 27, 1884, he had the charge of Speaker of the Assembly. Then, from 1884 to January 1887, he was Procuror General in the Ross cabinet. When this one had to present his demission, under the pressure of the ultramontanist on his party, Taillon replaced him on January 25, 1887, but he had himself to resign after four days when Mercier tallied a new majority of seats in the Assembly. Therefore, Taillon became Chief of the Opposition from 1887 to 1890. He was sworn minister without portofolio in the Boucher de Boucherville in 1891. The next year, on December 16, 1892, he regained his post of Premier of Québec. During his mandate, he became obsessed by the debt of Quebec that attained at that time 35 millions dollars and was representing 36% of the annual budget and so, Taillon cut in the expenditures and imposed direct taxes. These actions made him very unpopular. He did not present himself in front of the electorate and resigned in 1896, on May 11. He switched briefly to the federal arena, but he was unsuccessfull in his attempts to get elected. From 1911 to 1916, he became Postmaster in Montreal. He died in that city on April 25, 1923.
Premier of Québec. Born in Terrebonne, on September 26, 1840. He studied first in Terrebonne, then went to Montreal where he studied law and was admitted to the Bar on November 6, 1865. He was created Queen Counsel in law on January 20, 1882. He was elected conservative representative to the Québec Legislative Assembly for the district of Montréal-Est in the elections of 1875. He was reelected in 1878 and 1881. From March 8, 1882 to March 27, 1884, he had the charge of Speaker of the Assembly. Then, from 1884 to January 1887, he was Procuror General in the Ross cabinet. When this one had to present his demission, under the pressure of the ultramontanist on his party, Taillon replaced him on January 25, 1887, but he had himself to resign after four days when Mercier tallied a new majority of seats in the Assembly. Therefore, Taillon became Chief of the Opposition from 1887 to 1890. He was sworn minister without portofolio in the Boucher de Boucherville in 1891. The next year, on December 16, 1892, he regained his post of Premier of Québec. During his mandate, he became obsessed by the debt of Quebec that attained at that time 35 millions dollars and was representing 36% of the annual budget and so, Taillon cut in the expenditures and imposed direct taxes. These actions made him very unpopular. He did not present himself in front of the electorate and resigned in 1896, on May 11. He switched briefly to the federal arena, but he was unsuccessfull in his attempts to get elected. From 1911 to 1916, he became Postmaster in Montreal. He died in that city on April 25, 1923.
Bio by: Guy Gagnon
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