Louis-Joseph Papineau (1786-1871) - Find a Grave Memorial

Canadian Statesman. After graduation from the seminary of Quebec, Louis-Joseph Papineau, son of politician Joseph Papineau, initially hesitated as to his choice of career. Ultimately, he decided to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1810, after having already been elected to the assembly. Papineau served as an officer in the War of 1812. In 1815, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. Papineau purchased the seigneury of Petite-Nation from his father in 1817, and married the following year, the archbishop of Quebec officiating at the ceremony. In 1826, he was chosen to lead The Patriotes, considered a radical party. In 1831, he sponsored a law which granted full political rights to Jews. He led numerous protests against the English government and was instrumental in the boycott of British imports to Lower Canada in 1837. After his arrest was ordered by governor Lord Gosford in November of that year for his role in the insurrection, Papineau fled to the United States. He sought the support of the American president Martin Van Buren, but America declared itself neutral. He went to Paris in February of 1839, but France also stayed neutral in the conflict between Britain and its colonies in Canada. Papineau remained in exile until 1845, after he had been granted amnesty by both England and the colonial government. He was elected to the new Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1848, and supported the annexation of Canada to the United States. He did not run for reelection in 1854, and retired from public life completely after 1867, devoting his time to his seigneury at Montebello. Louis-Joseph Papineau died at his manor in Montebello, and was interred on September 28, 1871 at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. His homes in both Montebello and Montreal have been designated National Historic Sites of Canada.

Bio by: Anne Philbrick