Antoine-Olivier Berthelet
Encyclopedia
Antoine-Olivier Berthelet (May 25, 1798 – September 25, 1872) was a businessman, philanthropist and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Montreal
in 1798, the son of Pierre Berthelet
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal. He invested in land in the Montreal area, selling some at a profit and donating other parts to charities.
His charitable donations included the provision of property to Émilie Gamelin
for use as a shelter for sick and elderly women, and the provision of food, money, and building assistance to the Misericordia Sisters.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Montreal East in an 1832 by-election; he opposed the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. Berthelet was a member of the Fils de la Liberté, but opposed the use of force. He served on the municipal council for Montreal from 1840 to 1842. He was named to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
in 1841 but did not accept his nomination. He was a member of the Institut canadien de Montréal
, leaving the organization when it was condemned by Bishop Ignace Bourget
in 1858.
He died in Montreal in 1872.
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1798, the son of Pierre Berthelet
Pierre Berthelet
Pierre Berthelet was a merchant in the Montreal area. He was also heavily involved in real estate.Berthelet probably began his first successful business ventures in the fur trade. Records show that he was successful as a wheat merchant...
, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal. He invested in land in the Montreal area, selling some at a profit and donating other parts to charities.
His charitable donations included the provision of property to Émilie Gamelin
Émilie Gamelin
Émilie Gamelin , also known as Marie-Émilie-Eugène Gamelin and Amélie Gamelin, was a Canadian social worker and Roman Catholic nun. She is best known as the founder and first superior of the Sisters of Providence...
for use as a shelter for sick and elderly women, and the provision of food, money, and building assistance to the Misericordia Sisters.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Montreal East in an 1832 by-election; he opposed the Ninety-Two Resolutions
Ninety-Two Resolutions
The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the Parti patriote of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony....
. Berthelet was a member of the Fils de la Liberté, but opposed the use of force. He served on the municipal council for Montreal from 1840 to 1842. He was named to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
in 1841 but did not accept his nomination. He was a member of the Institut canadien de Montréal
Institut canadien de Montréal
The Institut canadien de Montréal was founded on 17 December 1844, by a group of 200 young liberal professionals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Institute was a public library and debating room for the literary and scientific society, which would later come into conflict with the Roman Catholic...
, leaving the organization when it was condemned by Bishop Ignace Bourget
Ignace Bourget
Ignace Bourget was a French-Canadian Roman Catholic priest who held the title of Bishop of Montreal from 1840 to 1876. Born in Lévis, Quebec in 1799, Bourget entered the clergy at an early age, undertook several courses of religious study, and in 1837 was named co-adjutor bishop of the newly...
in 1858.
He died in Montreal in 1872.