Alexandre-René Chaussegros de Léry
Encyclopedia
Alexandre-René Chaussegros de Léry (March 26, 1818 – December 19, 1880) was a Quebec
seigneur
, lawyer and political figure. He was a Conservative
member of the Senate of Canada for Lauzon division from 1871 to 1876 and also represented the same division in the Legislative Council of Quebec
from 1867 to 1880.
He was born at Quebec City
in 1818, the son of seigneur Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire of Quebec
. He articled in law with Louis de Gonzague Baillairgé
and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1844, he married Catherine Charlotte-Éliza, the daughter of seigneur Antoine-Gaspard Couillard
. He inherited the seigneuries of Rigaud-Vaudreuil and Sainte-Barbe-de-la-Famine and also owned property at Quebec City and Saint-François-de-la-Beauce
(now Beauceville, Quebec
). After gold
was discovered on his property, he set up the De Léry Gold Mining Company. He also took part in the founding of the Compagnie de Chemin à Lisses de Lévis à Kennebec (later the Quebec Central Railway
) and served as president.
He was named to the legislative council in 1867 and to the Senate in 1871, but resigned his seat in the Senate in 1876. He continued to be a member of the legislative council until his death in 1880 at Quebec. He was buried at Saint-François-de-la-Beauce.
His son William-Henri-Brouage later served as mayor of Saint-François-de-la-Beauce. His daughter Catherine-Louise-Josephte became the second wife of Richard Alleyn
, a member of the Quebec legislative assembly. His brother Charles-Joseph had also been mayor of Saint-François-de-la-Beauce and also served as warden for Beauce County
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, lawyer and political figure. He was a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
member of the Senate of Canada for Lauzon division from 1871 to 1876 and also represented the same division in the Legislative Council of Quebec
Legislative Council of Quebec
From 1867 until 1968, the Legislative Council of Quebec was the unelected upper house of the bicameral legislature in the Canadian province of Quebec...
from 1867 to 1880.
He was born at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1818, the son of seigneur Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry
Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry
Charles-Étienne Chaussegros de Léry was a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in the town of Quebec in 1774, the son of seigneur Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry and Louise Martel de Brouague, the daughter of François Martel de Brouague...
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire of Quebec
Petit Séminaire of Quebec
The Seminary of Quebec is a Roman Catholic community of priests in Quebec City founded by Bishop François de Laval, the first bishop of New France in 1663.-History and Mission:...
. He articled in law with Louis de Gonzague Baillairgé
Louis de Gonzague Baillairgé
Louis de Gonzague Baillairgé, , was the son of Pierre-Florent Baillairgé and grandson of Jean Baillairgé...
and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 1844, he married Catherine Charlotte-Éliza, the daughter of seigneur Antoine-Gaspard Couillard
Antoine-Gaspard Couillard
Antoine-Gaspard Couillard was a seigneur, physician and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Saint-Thomas in Montmagny in 1789, the son of seigneur Jean-Baptiste Couillard and Marie-Angélique Chaussegros de Léry, the daughter of Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. Couillard studied at...
. He inherited the seigneuries of Rigaud-Vaudreuil and Sainte-Barbe-de-la-Famine and also owned property at Quebec City and Saint-François-de-la-Beauce
Beauceville, Quebec
Beauceville is a city in and the seat of the Municipalité régionale de comté Robert-Cliche in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population was 6,226 as of the Canada 2006 Census....
(now Beauceville, Quebec
Beauceville, Quebec
Beauceville is a city in and the seat of the Municipalité régionale de comté Robert-Cliche in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population was 6,226 as of the Canada 2006 Census....
). After gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discovered on his property, he set up the De Léry Gold Mining Company. He also took part in the founding of the Compagnie de Chemin à Lisses de Lévis à Kennebec (later the Quebec Central Railway
Quebec Central Railway
The Quebec Central Railway was a railway in the Canadian province of Quebec, that served the area of Quebec called the Eastern Townships, south of the St. Lawrence River. Its headquarters was in Sherbrooke. It was originally incorporated in 1869 as the Sherbrooke, Eastern Townships and Kennebec...
) and served as president.
He was named to the legislative council in 1867 and to the Senate in 1871, but resigned his seat in the Senate in 1876. He continued to be a member of the legislative council until his death in 1880 at Quebec. He was buried at Saint-François-de-la-Beauce.
His son William-Henri-Brouage later served as mayor of Saint-François-de-la-Beauce. His daughter Catherine-Louise-Josephte became the second wife of Richard Alleyn
Richard Alleyn
Richard Alleyn was an Irish-born lawyer, judge, educator and political figure in Quebec. He represented Quebec-Ouest in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1877 to 1878 as a Conservative....
, a member of the Quebec legislative assembly. His brother Charles-Joseph had also been mayor of Saint-François-de-la-Beauce and also served as warden for Beauce County
Beauce, Quebec
Beauce is a historical and traditional region of Quebec located south of Quebec City. It corresponds approximately to the regional county municipalities of Beauce-Sartigan, Robert-Cliche and La Nouvelle-Beauce, and its major communities are Saint-Georges, Sainte-Marie, Beauceville,...
.