Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury (October 28, 1798 – September 15, 1862) was a Canadian soldier
, lawyer
, politician
and newspaper
founder.
) where his father was commandant
. He grew up in Montréal
at what is now known as la maison Clément-Sabrevois de Bleury, which is situated on Rue Saint-Gabriel.
Descended from a military family linked by marriage to Pierre Boucher
, Clément-Charles was the last Sabrevois to bear the name Bleury. He was brought up at William-Henry in a conservative Anglican
milieu.
From 1809 to 1815 he studied at the Collège de Montréal
, where he was noted for his support of the Parti patriote of Louis-Joseph Papineau
, but was alarmed by the "all or nothing" strategy of the party, which made an armed rebellion seem likely. He then took legal training under his brother-in-law, Basile-Benjamin Trottier Desrivières-Beaubien, and was called to the bar
in November 1819.
On January 16, 1823, at Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan
, he married Marie-Élisabeth-Alix, daughter of Barthélémy Rocher, a merchant and lieutenant-colonel.
, the Patriote representative for Vaudreuil
. The point of issue between them was who should, and who should not, be called before a committee that was looking into the sale of potash
. The exchange came to an end with Bleury returning to his seat and grumbling aloud about having to conduct business with filth. Perrault was angered by the insult and went to see Louis-Joseph Papineau
about it. Papineau suggested, in pontidical manner, that it would be best to meet with Bleury somewhere outside the House, and let him know that the insult had been noticed.
Perrault took this to mean that he should teach the man a lesson. When next they met, in the dark of night on an icy patch of road near the Battery, he threw the first punch. What ensued was a farcical fist fight in which the combatants were unable to keep their footing on the ice as they flailed away at each other. It only ended when Perrault landed a blow which knocked Bleury down, and then, unable to retain his balance, fell on top of him. The two were finally separated by officers
.
The following morning, Bleury, wanting revenge, sent a peremptory note, transmitted by Aaron Ezekiel Hart
, to Perrault demanding satisfaction, and a duel
was set. Bleury was quite confident, as he had already fought three duels before.
They met for the duel in the woods of L'Ancienne-Lorette
at three o’clock in the evening. Their seconds placed the two men 36 feet apart, loaded the pistols, then set about trying to negotiate a compromise, talking with each other, then their principals. At last a solution was worked out. The seconds negotiated a peaceful and honourable resolution of the dispute, both Perrault and Bleury apologized to each other, shook hands, and discharged their pistols into the air to end the matter. They returned to their respective carriage
s, proceeding to a tavern
for a drink before going back to Quebec
.
Perrault lost his life the following year at the battle of Saint-Denis
on the Richelieu
.
On April 5 that same year, Bleury fought another duel with Ludger Duvernay
, the owner of La Minerve
, which ended with Duvernay being shot in the right knee
.
in the 3rd Battalion of Montreal militia, and enabled him to rise quickly in the militia
. On November 24, 1830 he was promoted captain in the Chasseurs Canadiens; on April 22, 1838 he became a major
and on July 7, 1848 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel
commanding the Montreal Rifles.
He gradually discovered a "Canadian identity" which led him to embrace the Patriotes’ cause. In July 1832, yielding to the party’s pressing requests, he stood as a candidate for the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
in Richelieu
, following the resignation of François-Roch de Saint-Ours. On August 8 he was returned by acclamation. In the house, Sabrevois followed Louis-Joseph Papineau
's lead. He voted in favour of the expulsion of Dominique Mondelet
in 1832 and for the Ninety-Two Resolutions
in 1834, branding John Neilson
a turncoat
because he opposed each of the resolutions.
On July 6, 1837 Bleury agreed to be vice-chairman of a gathering of the governor’s supporters at which George Moffatt presided.
He readily accepted the invitation of the governor, Lord Gosford
, to sit on the Legislative Council, serving as a member from August 22, 1837 until its dissolution in 1838.
In April 1837, he and Léon Gosselin founded Le Populaire, a newspaper promoting moderation and prudence, which opposed to the Lower Canada Rebellion
. In that year he commanded the escort that took the political prisoners to the new prison in Montreal.
Following the dissolution, Bleury served as an alderman
for Montreal
from 1839 until late 1844, when he was again elected to the legislature, and once again in 1847. Again, he supported the government on most issues, though he also opposed them on some.
He was not a candidate in the 1847–48 elections. In 1849 he let himself be persuaded by his friend George Moffatt to sign the Annexation Manifesto
; then in 1854, for an unknown reason, he ran for election in the constituency of Laval, not supporting any party. He suffered the most bitter defeat in Canadian political history – he did not receive a single vote. This staggering blow marked the end of his political career and was the signal for his final retirement from public life.
at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
, near Laval, Quebec
at the age of 63. He was said to have 'won over Montreal’s high society by his charm, elegant manners, and refined style of living'. He is buried in Notre Dame Cathedral, Montreal. He had no children. After his death, sheriff Louis-Tancrède Bouthillier
, a nephew by marriage, bought the heavily mortgaged manor house.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
founder.
Early life
Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury was born October 28, 1798 to Clément Sabrevois de Bleury (1755–1827) and Amélia Bowers in William-Henry (present-day Sorel, QuebecSorel-Tracy, Quebec
Sorel-Tracy is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada and the geographical end point of the Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006...
) where his father was commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
. He grew up in Montréal
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...
at what is now known as la maison Clément-Sabrevois de Bleury, which is situated on Rue Saint-Gabriel.
Descended from a military family linked by marriage to Pierre Boucher
Pierre Boucher
Pierre Boucher and later Pierre Boucher de Boucherville, born and baptized 1 August 1622 in Mortagne-au-Perche, died 19 April 1717 at the age of 95 at Boucherville, came to Canada from France in 1635 with his father...
, Clément-Charles was the last Sabrevois to bear the name Bleury. He was brought up at William-Henry in a conservative Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
milieu.
From 1809 to 1815 he studied at the Collège de Montréal
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
, where he was noted for his support of the Parti patriote of Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
, but was alarmed by the "all or nothing" strategy of the party, which made an armed rebellion seem likely. He then took legal training under his brother-in-law, Basile-Benjamin Trottier Desrivières-Beaubien, and was called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in November 1819.
On January 16, 1823, at Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan
Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Quebec
Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan is a Quebec municipality located in the Montcalm Regional County Municipality located in the Lanaudière region. It is on the banks of the Achigan River, a tributary of the L'Assomption River...
, he married Marie-Élisabeth-Alix, daughter of Barthélémy Rocher, a merchant and lieutenant-colonel.
Duel with Charles-Ovide Perrault
On January 8, 1836, he became embroiled in an altercation on the floor of the House with Charles-Ovide PerraultCharles-Ovide Perrault
Charles-Ovide Perrault was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada. He represented Vaudreuil in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1834 to 1837....
, the Patriote representative for Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil (provincial electoral district)
Vaudreuil is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1988 from a part of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. It includes the cities of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Hudson and Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot...
. The point of issue between them was who should, and who should not, be called before a committee that was looking into the sale of potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
. The exchange came to an end with Bleury returning to his seat and grumbling aloud about having to conduct business with filth. Perrault was angered by the insult and went to see Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
about it. Papineau suggested, in pontidical manner, that it would be best to meet with Bleury somewhere outside the House, and let him know that the insult had been noticed.
Perrault took this to mean that he should teach the man a lesson. When next they met, in the dark of night on an icy patch of road near the Battery, he threw the first punch. What ensued was a farcical fist fight in which the combatants were unable to keep their footing on the ice as they flailed away at each other. It only ended when Perrault landed a blow which knocked Bleury down, and then, unable to retain his balance, fell on top of him. The two were finally separated by officers
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
The following morning, Bleury, wanting revenge, sent a peremptory note, transmitted by Aaron Ezekiel Hart
Aaron Ezekiel Hart
Aaron Ezekiel Hart was a Canadian Jewish barrister, lawyer, militia officer, office-holder, and son of Ezekiel Hart...
, to Perrault demanding satisfaction, and a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
was set. Bleury was quite confident, as he had already fought three duels before.
They met for the duel in the woods of L'Ancienne-Lorette
L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
L'Ancienne-Lorette is a city in central Quebec, Canada. It is a suburb of and an enclave within Quebec City. It was merged with Quebec City from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005, but was re-established as a separate city on January 1, 2006....
at three o’clock in the evening. Their seconds placed the two men 36 feet apart, loaded the pistols, then set about trying to negotiate a compromise, talking with each other, then their principals. At last a solution was worked out. The seconds negotiated a peaceful and honourable resolution of the dispute, both Perrault and Bleury apologized to each other, shook hands, and discharged their pistols into the air to end the matter. They returned to their respective carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
s, proceeding to a tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
for a drink before going back to Quebec
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...
.
Perrault lost his life the following year at the battle of Saint-Denis
Battle of Saint-Denis (1837)
The Battle of St. Denis was fought on November 22, 1837 between British colonial authorities under Lieutenant-Colonel Gore and Lower Canada rebels. The rebels were victoriously led by Wolfred Nelson.- See also :*Lower Canada Rebellion...
on the Richelieu
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
.
On April 5 that same year, Bleury fought another duel with Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay was born in Verchères, Quebec, Canada.He was a printer by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve, which supported the Parti patriote and...
, the owner of La Minerve
La Minerve
La Minerve was a newspaper founded in Montreal, Lower Canada by Augustin-Norbert Morin to promote the political goals of Louis-Joseph Papineau's Parti patriote. It was notably directed by Ludger Duvernay in its earlier years. It existed from 1826 to 1837, and again from 1842 to May 27, 1899...
, which ended with Duvernay being shot in the right knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
.
Career
His family background and his skill in arms gained him a commission, on January 29, 1825, as lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 3rd Battalion of Montreal militia, and enabled him to rise quickly in the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. On November 24, 1830 he was promoted captain in the Chasseurs Canadiens; on April 22, 1838 he became a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and on July 7, 1848 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
commanding the Montreal Rifles.
He gradually discovered a "Canadian identity" which led him to embrace the Patriotes’ cause. In July 1832, yielding to the party’s pressing requests, he stood as a candidate for 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...
in Richelieu
Richelieu (provincial electoral district)
Richelieu is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montérégie region, the district was created in 1792. Between 1936 and 1944, it was part of the defunct riding of Richelieu-Vercheres...
, following the resignation of François-Roch de Saint-Ours. On August 8 he was returned by acclamation. In the house, Sabrevois followed Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
's lead. He voted in favour of the expulsion of Dominique Mondelet
Dominique Mondelet (seigneur)
Dominique Mondelet was a lawyer, judge, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, the son of notary Jean-Marie Mondelet, and studied at the Collège de Montréal. He articled in law with Michael O'Sullivan, was admitted to the bar in 1820 and set up...
in 1832 and for 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....
in 1834, branding John Neilson
John Neilson
John Neilson was a Scots-Quebecer editor of the newspaper La Gazette de Québec/The Quebec Gazette and a politician.- Biography :...
a turncoat
Turncoat
A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party...
because he opposed each of the resolutions.
On July 6, 1837 Bleury agreed to be vice-chairman of a gathering of the governor’s supporters at which George Moffatt presided.
He readily accepted the invitation of the governor, Lord Gosford
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford GCB , styled The Honourable Archibald Acheson from 1790 to 1806 and Lord Acheson from 1806 to 1807, was a British politician who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada and Governor General of British North America in the 19th century.-Background:Born at...
, to sit on the Legislative Council, serving as a member from August 22, 1837 until its dissolution in 1838.
In April 1837, he and Léon Gosselin founded Le Populaire, a newspaper promoting moderation and prudence, which opposed to the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
. In that year he commanded the escort that took the political prisoners to the new prison in Montreal.
Following the dissolution, Bleury served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for 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...
from 1839 until late 1844, when he was again elected to the legislature, and once again in 1847. Again, he supported the government on most issues, though he also opposed them on some.
He was not a candidate in the 1847–48 elections. In 1849 he let himself be persuaded by his friend George Moffatt to sign the Annexation Manifesto
Montreal Annexation Manifesto
The Montreal Annexation Manifesto was a political document dated September 14, 1849 and signed in Montreal, Quebec, calling for Canada's annexation by the United States....
; then in 1854, for an unknown reason, he ran for election in the constituency of Laval, not supporting any party. He suffered the most bitter defeat in Canadian political history – he did not receive a single vote. This staggering blow marked the end of his political career and was the signal for his final retirement from public life.
Death
Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury died September 15, 1862 at his manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Laval, Quebec, Canada. Saint-Vincent-de-Paul was a town before August 6, 1965. Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is named after Vincent de Paul.- Geography :...
, near Laval, Quebec
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
at the age of 63. He was said to have 'won over Montreal’s high society by his charm, elegant manners, and refined style of living'. He is buried in Notre Dame Cathedral, Montreal. He had no children. After his death, sheriff Louis-Tancrède Bouthillier
Louis-Tancrède Bouthillier
Louis-Tancrède Bouthillier was a Canadian officer, merchant, potash inspector, sheriff, and landowner....
, a nephew by marriage, bought the heavily mortgaged manor house.